[Your agency’s logo Contact: PERSON AT YOUR AGENCY

can go here if you PHONE

have one] EMAIL

DATE HERE

Contact: George Kimes, PCPA

717-364-3280

National Direct Support Professionals Week recognizes [REGION]unsung heroes who help residents with physical, intellectual and developmental disabilities

[CITY] – The week of September 12-19 has been declared National Direct Support Professionals Week in an effort to recognize and express appreciation for the work of community providers caring for our friends, family and neighbors with disabilities.

Many residents of [REGION] are unaware of the important services that Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) provide, even though many of them may know people who would benefit from support, or may someday need support themselves.

DSPs assist their clients—diagnosed with intellectual, developmental or physical disabilities—with the hands-on with activities of daily living. Many of these clients are able to live in a home instead of an institution because of their DSPs.

This workforce is responsible for the health, safety and emotional well-being of the individuals they support, helping them to live more meaningful and productive lives by encouraging them to be active in their communities and helping them maintain independence.

The need for the quality care provided by DSPs is constantly growing, as the population ages and the number of individuals living with disabilities increases. The amount of people who choose this field as a profession, however, is not meeting this growth. Low wages and benefits for state and federally funded services have resulted in a high turnover rate among DSPs, which contributes to a shortage of these workers available to clients in need.

[NAME OF AGENCY] is part of the Pennsylvania Community Providers Association (PCPA). PCPA represents DSPs and other community service providers, and is trying to raise awareness and advocate for change that will better the working climate for DSPs.

[Next, explain in a short paragraph what services your organization provides.]

[NAME OF AGENCY]’s DSPs have thousands of stories about how their work is life-enriching for both DSPs and the clients they serve.

For example, [Provide an anecdote, 2-3 short paragraphs. You can use first names for employees and create a fictional name for a real client, depending upon your client privacy policy.]

To increase the number of DSPs and help more clients, policy makers should support efforts to increase wages and benefits, including raising reimbursement rates covering the care provided by DSPs. It is much more cost effective to enable disabled citizens to remain at home with the help of DSPs, rather than pay to have them live in facility that offers care.

During National Direct Support Professionals Week, PCPA is encouraging members of the public to learn about the services provided by DSPs and support policies to improve those services. Every citizen should realize the vital services performed by DSPs and ensure those services are available when they or someone they know needs them.

Learn more at .

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