HR0605 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0605 LRB100 14486 MST 29286 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Direct support professionals provide long-term support and services for thousands of children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Illinois; and

WHEREAS, Direct support professionals build close, respectful, and trusted relationships with the persons they help support and their families; and

WHEREAS, Direct support professionals provide a broad range of individualized support and assistance with tasks such as eating, bathing, administering medication, job and life skills training, money management, meal preparation, and reading, community engagement, and transportation; and

WHEREAS, Over the past several decades, thousands of individuals with developmental disabilities have moved from their family homes, foster homes or state institutions into group homes, where they have been able to achieve more productive and fulfilling lives; and

WHEREAS, There is a documented critical and growing shortage of direct support professionals in Illinois that is directly correlated to low wages that are often below the federal poverty level; and

WHEREAS, This staffing crisis gravely impacts the quality of life and personal safety of persons with disabilities in Illinois; and

WHEREAS, In order to continue to enhance the lives of persons with disabilities and their families who rely on long term supports and services, community providers who employ direct support professionals must obtain the resources to recruit, train and retain a highly qualified and sustainable workforce; and

WHEREAS, Competition is growing for direct support professionals; job opportunities at Walmart, fast food restaurants, retail stores, the new Amazon warehouse, and even at the local donut shop often pay more than what the State pays direct service professionals; in addition, the minimum wage in Chicago is rising well above what the State currently pays direct service professionals; and

WHEREAS, The "They Deserve More" coalition is engaged in a statewide effort to address the staffing crisis affecting services to people with disabilities and their families in Illinois; and

WHEREAS, The only solution to this ever-worsening crisis is to increase state funding to provide a living and competitive wage for direct support professionals; and

WHEREAS, Illinoisans recognize and celebrate the contributions of direct support professionals that help strengthen our communities by fostering greater inclusion for persons with disabilities; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we declare September 11-15, 2017 as "Direct Support Professionals Recognition Week" in the State of Illinois; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we honor the dedication and vital role of direct support professionals in enhancing the lives of children and adults with disabilities and their families.