Title
Authorizing Council's Committee on Health and Human Services to hold hearings concerning the quality, stability and sustainability of Direct Support Professionals, who provide critically needed care to individuals of all ages with behavioral health, developmental and physical disabilities.
Body
WHEREAS, Direct Support Professionals provide critically needed services to thousands of Philadelphians who have behavioral health, developmental, and/or physical disabilities, including autism, and include staff who work directly with consumers in residential, day, employment services and support programs; and
WHEREAS, Direct Support Professionals work with a variety of individuals spanning a wide diversity of capabilities, to assist them with securing meaningful jobs, finding appropriate housing arrangements, learning to navigate public transportation systems and/or engaging in social activities; and
WHEREAS, The services of Direct Support Professionals give people with behavior health, developmental and or physical disabilities real choices, to work, live and socialize in their communities, to realize their dreams, to transform their lives and to be included in the everyday lives of their neighborhoods; and
WHEREAS, Human service organizations, that are overwhelmingly nonprofits, and under contract with the state and the City to provide critically needed services to these vulnerable populations, train, employ, and rely on Direct Support Professionals to; and
WHEREAS, Since individuals with disabilities, autism, behavioral health conditions (mental health and drug and alcohol dependence) and their families, depend on Direct Support Professionals to meet their health, safety and daily needs for successful functioning across their lifespan, Direct Support Professionals must have adequate training, remuneration and stable job situations in order to successfully meet the goals of their clients; and
WHEREAS, Despite City Council's support of a min...
Click here for full text