ANCOR Position Statement: Role of the Direct Support Professional
ANCOR believes that Direct Support Professionals
play a vital role in ensuring that individuals with disabilities have the tools
that they need to be albe to live and work in their communities. These valuable
front-line workers provide a wide range of supports on a day-to-day basis to
individuals. These supports include habilitation, health care, personal care
and hygiene, employment, transportation, socialization, recreation, housekeeping
and other home management-related assistance. Through stable, long-term relationships,
Direct Support Professionals are critical to full community participation for
people with disabilities.
ANCOR recognizes that a quality direct support workforce is a
critical component to the evolution and implementation of high quality supports
that best assure the individual health, safety, satisfaction and healthy lifestyles
of persons with disabilities.
ANCOR believes that:
There is a national workforce crisis.
There is significant competition for the direct support workforce.
There is high turnover, low wages and benefits and limited
support and raining for Direct Support Professionals
Service providers must be able to recruit, train, support
and retain Direct Support Professionals.
Direct Support Professionals must have access to initial and
ongoing training.
The key to full community participation is directly linked
to the availability of a stable and competent workforce.
A quality workforce is essential to advance America's commitment
to community participation for people with disabilities and to personal security
for them and their families.
Therefore, ANCOR believes that:
Direct Support Professionals must be paid a living wage and
benefits.
It must support Legislation that strengthens the role and
availability of the direct support workforce.
It must advocate for the professionalization of the direct
support workforce.
The training needs of Direct Support Professionals change
as do those of the people whom they support.
It must conduct and publish research directed at the direct
support workforce in order to increase the number of available workers and
to improve the conditions of the current workers.
Direct Support Professionals must be recognized for the invaluable
role they play in people's lives and in the fabric of their communities.
In concert with ANCOR's National Advocacy Campaign, ANCOR
endorses:
The National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals Code
of Ethics
The Direct Support Professional Recognition Act
United States Department of Labor Human Services Direct Support
Professionals Apprenticeship Program
