(20 ILCS 105/8.08) Sec. 8.08. Older direct care worker recognition. The Department shall present one award annually to older direct care workers in each of the following categories: Older American Act Services, Home Health Services, Community Care Program Services, Nursing Homes, and programs that provide housing with services licensed or certified by the State. The Department shall solicit nominations from associations representing providers of the named services or settings and trade associations representing applicable direct care workers. Nominations shall be presented in a format designated by the Department. Direct care workers honored with this award must be 55 years of age or older and shall be recognized for their dedication and commitment to improving the quality of aging in Illinois above and beyond the confines of their job description. Award recipients shall be honored before their peers at the Governor's Conference on Aging or at a similar venue, shall have their pictures displayed on the Department's website with their permission, and shall receive a letter of commendation from the Governor. The Department shall include the recipients of these awards in all Senior Hall of Fame displays required by this Act. Except as otherwise prohibited by law, the Department may solicit private sector funding to underwrite the cost of all awards and recognition materials and shall request that all associations representing providers of the named services or settings and trade associations applicable to direct care workers publicize the awards and the award recipients in communications with their members.
(Source: P.A. 96-376, eff. 8-13-09; 96-918, eff. 6-9-10; 97-813, eff. 7-13-12.) |