NYSACRA

U.S. SENATE PASSES
DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL RESOLUTION!

The U.S. Senate voted unanimously o­n October 22, 2003, to approve Senate Concurrent Resolution #21, the “Direct Support Professional Recognition Resolution”.  The Resolution states that “it is the sense of the Congress that the Federal Government and the States should make it a priority to ensure a stable, quality direct support workforce for individuals with mental retardation or other developmental disabilities that advances our Nation's commitment to community integration for such individuals and to personal security for them and their families.”  The Resolution was amended o­n the floor of the Senate to remove two clauses that related to the Medicaid funding disparities among states and between institutional and community supports.  Please thank Senators Schumer and Clinton for their support for this Resolution.  (Click Here or view the NYSACRA website version of this News & Views for contact information.)

There is a House Resolution, HCR #94, which still needs to be adopted by the House.  Even when that is complete this concurrent resolution won't change the system, however, this step of recognition is a huge step towards improving the delivery of services to individuals with disabilities.  With adequate staffing levels, which are being paid real living wages, parents, families and providers can be sure that the supports that will be necessary in the future will be there.  For a copy of the resolution, HConRes#94 and SConRes#21 or see the NYSACRA website version of today's News & Views at www.nysacra.org .

DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL BECOMES A TRADE!!

On 10/22/03, the Direct Support Professional became a new trade in New York State at a meeting of the NYS Apprenticeship and Training Council.  Thanks to the hard work of o­ne agency, New Horizons Resources in Poughkeepsie, NY, the first gate has been hurtled in making the work of the Direct Support Professional a trade.  This means that New Horizons will continue to work to develop an apprenticeship program in their agency.  There are 1200 apprenticeable positions in New York State currently.  The apprenticeship is a career path envisioned by some to structure the learning of the direct support professional and encompasses the National Community Support Skill Standards.  This may mean DOL attention to resources for employers to develop training for our workforce.  This apprenticeship program is o­ne way to recognize that the direct support professional is a professional with a career.  There is more work to be done, but congratulations to New Horizons o­n this first step.  Look for a workshop at our April conference about direct support professionals and the apprenticeship program.