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| | SR0904 | | LRB100 14523 MST 29311 r |
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| 1 | | SENATE RESOLUTION
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| 2 | | WHEREAS, Direct support professionals are the primary |
| 3 | | providers of publicly-funded, long-term support and services |
| 4 | | for thousands of children
and adults with intellectual and |
| 5 | | developmental disabilities in Illinois; and
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| 6 | | WHEREAS, Direct support professionals build close, |
| 7 | | respectful, and trusted relationships with the
persons they |
| 8 | | help support; and
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| 9 | | WHEREAS, Direct support professionals provide a broad |
| 10 | | range of individualized support and
assistance with tasks such |
| 11 | | as eating, bathing, administering medication, job and life |
| 12 | | skills training,
money management, meal preparation, and |
| 13 | | reading; and
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| 14 | | WHEREAS, There is a documented critical and growing |
| 15 | | shortage of direct support professionals
in Illinois that is |
| 16 | | directly correlated to low wages that are often below the |
| 17 | | federal poverty level; and
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| 18 | | WHEREAS, This staffing crisis gravely impacts the quality |
| 19 | | of life and personal safety of persons
with disabilities in |
| 20 | | Illinois; and
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| | SR0904 | - 2 - | LRB100 14523 MST 29311 r |
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| 1 | | WHEREAS, In order to continue to enhance the lives of |
| 2 | | persons with disabilities and their families
who rely on |
| 3 | | long-term supports and services, community providers who |
| 4 | | employ direct support
professionals must obtain the resources |
| 5 | | to recruit, train, and retain a highly qualified and |
| 6 | | sustainable
workforce; and
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| 7 | | WHEREAS, The "They Deserve More" coalition is engaged in a |
| 8 | | statewide effort to address the
staffing crisis affecting |
| 9 | | services to people with disabilities and their families in |
| 10 | | Illinois; and
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| 11 | | WHEREAS, The only solution to this ever-worsening crisis is |
| 12 | | to increase state funding to provide
a living and competitive |
| 13 | | wage for direct support professionals; and
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| 14 | | WHEREAS, Illinoisans recognize and celebrate the |
| 15 | | contributions of direct support professionals
that help |
| 16 | | strengthen our communities by fostering greater inclusion for |
| 17 | | persons with disabilities; therefore, be it
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| 18 | | RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL |
| 19 | | ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we declare September |
| 20 | | 11-15, 2017 as "Direct Support Professionals Recognition Week" |
| 21 | | in the State of Illinois, and we recognize the vital role of |
| 22 | | direct support professionals in enhancing the lives of children |