Guest Blog: Direct Support Professionals-Did You Know?

UCPLA’s Chief Strategist Becky Hansen has more than 20 years of experience building, executing, and leading transformation initiatives within Human Services organizations.

Did you know that September 9-15, 2019 is National Direct Support Professional (DSP) week?  This week serves as a great opportunity to highlight, recognize and thank talented and dedicated Direct Support Professionals nationwide.  The week will include cards, treats and celebrations here at UCPLA, but this is just a small fraction of the recognition they deserve each day. 

Did you know that DSPs require a diverse set of skills and the ability to wear many hats?  A day in the life of a DSP is often rewarding, challenging and stressful.  It’s a juggling act that takes talent and skill.  Typical responsibilities of a DSP often include:

• Supporting people with daily living activities (personal care, cleaning, eating assistance, etc.)
• Medication administration
• Operating medical equipment to lift, bathe, and support people
• Providing transportation
• Teaching skills such as social skills, money management, and safety
• Implementing individualized plans
• Completing paperwork, forms, and documentation
• Serving as an advocate for the person
• Supporting people to engage in their community and to have a chance to have fun
• Providing support when people are ill, upset, or having a hard day
• Forming close, trusted relationships with people

Did you know that DSPs make a bigger difference in day-to-day quality than any other position?  The reality is that DSPs are the ones who bring UCPLA’s mission and values to life.  They don’t just envision a world where all people are empowered to have a meaningful life—they work tirelessly to make it happen.  DSPs are the people who directly impact quality as it relates to day-to-day care.  Chances are that if I (as UCPLA’s Chief Strategist) didn’t show up to work, the people we support wouldn’t know or care.  On the other hand, if their DSP didn’t show up, it would significantly impact their life. 

Did you know that despite often being referred to as the “backbone” of long-term services and supports, DSPs are among the nation’s most vulnerable workers?  Many hardworking DSPs struggle to make ends meet day to day.  Wages, benefits, and career ladder opportunities have not kept up with the increased responsibilities and workload of DSPs. A recent survey conducted with 5,726 DSPs across 50 counties in CA revealed:

• 42% of DSPs have children on MediCal
• 36% are on MediCal themselves
• 20% Receive public food assistance
• 34% Work 20 or more hours at a second job

Now that you know more about some of the realities and challenges that DSPs face every day, we hope that you join us in celebrating and recognizing them during National DSP Week. But the celebration of and support for our DSPs doesn’t stop on September 15.  UCPLA is committed to a high quality of life not only for the people we serve, but also for the dedicated employees who carry out these services each day.  Stay tuned for an announcement on #GivingTuesday (December 3, 2019) about some new ways we’re supporting our DSPs to make those stats above a thing of the past, and how you can play a role in this commitment.  In the meantime, I encourage you to sign up for UCPLA President and CEO Lori Anderson’s monthly Policy & Advocacy Update emails, which offer a variety of calls-to-action for supporting policies and legislation that support our DSPs and the people we serve.