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Pulling back the curtains on wage-theft enforcement in MN; Trump's latest attack is on RFK, Jr; NM LGBTQ+ equality group endorses 2024 'Rock Star' candidates; Michigan's youth justice reforms: Expanded diversion, no fees.

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Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg says rebuilding Baltimore's Key Bridge will be challenging and expensive. An Alabama Democrat flips a state legislature seat and former Connecticut senator Joe Lieberman dies at 82.

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Historic wildfires could create housing and health issues for rural Texans, a Kentucky program helps prison parolees start a new life, and descendants of Nicodemus, Kansas celebrate the Black settlers who journeyed across the 1870s plains seeking self-governance.

IA Support Workers Finally Getting Credit

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Monday, September 14, 2009   

DES MOINES, Iowa - This week is National Direct Support Professionals Recognition Week, set side to say "thanks" to those who provide services to people with disabilities around the country and in Iowa.

Rik Shannon with the Iowa Developmental Disabilities Council says these direct-support professionals assist Iowans with all sorts of tasks, ranging from preparation of meals to helping with medications, even to getting to activities. He says there is a growing shortage of people willing to do such work for the salaries offered.

"There are many direct-support professionals who leave their jobs because of the inadequacy of wages and benefits, there is a lot of turnover and job vacancy rates that really do have an impact on supports and services for individuals with disabilities."

He says many direct-support professionals are employed in home and community-based settings, and this trend is expected to continue. Shannon went on to say many of their Iowa clients would be unable to live independently without them.

"These are services that allow them to be independent, to be productive, oftentimes to go to work, and most importantly, to live independently and in communities of their choice."

Shannon believes that, without these professionals, the cost to taxpayers might jump, as clients would have to be placed in high-priced institutional care instead of being cared for in their homes.


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