A Special DSP Week Message

We are thrilled to bring you this special message in honor of Direct Support Professional (DSP) week, September 9-15, 2018.

For the past several years, Search has engaged in statewide advocacy efforts to increase wages for Direct Support Professionals.  This has included participation in the “They Deserve More” campaign, which has brought attention to the critical need for additional funding to recruit and retain high quality support staff.  This past spring a group of Search staff, including DSPs, visited with our legislators to describe the impact of the State’s inadequate funding and to advocate for a wage increase.

Our efforts are making a difference! 

We are extremely pleased to share that, for the second year in a row, the State of Illinois has passed a wage increase as part of its final budget legislation.  This week, retroactive to July 1st, 2018, we were able to pass this wage increase along to our incredible Direct Support Professionals and support staff.  Congratulations DSPs!

While we are encouraged by this progress, we know that there is more work to do on this issue.  Thank you to all of our staff and supporters who continue to engage with their elected officials on the need to raise the wage for DSPs. We are so grateful for your continued support!