ARRM News and Public Relations

Six outstanding caregivers to be honored for their work

SOUTH SAINT PAUL, Minn. – Whether it’s helping people reach personal goals or survive tough times, one thing the six recipients of the 2012 ARRM Cares Award have in common is that they are passionate about making sure the people they support live truly meaningful lives. On Thursday, May 24, 2012, the Association of Residential Resources in Minnesota (ARRM) will honor these six exemplary direct support professionals (DSPs) during a moving ceremony at the Crown Plaza Saint Paul Riverfront Hotel.

The ARRM Cares Award program was started in 1996 to recognize exemplary DSPs. Recipients of this award are chosen based on their ability to provide innovative, professional services to people with intellectual and physical disabilities. Each year, six outstanding Minnesotans are selected from a field of about 150 nominees.

“This year’s stories demonstrate the unflagging dedication DSPs have to the people they support,” said ARRM’s CEO Bruce Nelson. “They have helped people with disabilities lose weight, survive crushing grief and recover from life-threatening illnesses. They are not only caregivers; they are mentors, advocates, and companions. It’s hard not to be affected emotionally by their stories of devotion and respect.”

The 2012 winners are:

• Linda Bakke , REM South Central Services
• Kellie Beaver, Volunteers of America
• Nicky Besette, CCRI, Inc.
• Patricia Maness, Volunteers of America
• Tom Mohrland, Dakota Communities, Inc.
• Kay Woitas, REM Ramsey Congress

The hour-long ceremony begins at 3:45 p.m., and the master of ceremonies for the event is Rena Sarigianopoulos, weekend anchor and reporter for KARE 11.

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Opportunity Partners hands out awards to four companies

MINNEAPOLIS – Opportunity Partners recognized four companies’ work with people with disabilities during the November 1 Celebrate Opportunity event at the Doubletree Park Place.

Julie Olson Topp Employer of the Year Award, Whole Foods Market

Emily Stockinger of Whole Foods Market accepted the Julie Olson Topp Employer of the Year Award. The award spotlights a company with an inspirational strong work ethic. Whole Foods Market’s dedication to hiring workers with disabilities whenever it can and proactively contacting Opportunity Partners with job openings made them the perfect recipient for this year’s award.  

Whole Foods Market is the leading natural and organic food retailer with more than 300 stores and $9 billion in sales last year.

Laura Zemlin Employer of the Year Award, General Mills

The Laura Zemlin Employer of the Year Award recognizes a company that provides outstanding supported employment work opportunities in the community. Twenty Opportunity Partners participants currently work at one of three General Mills locations each week. The award was accepted by General Mills’ Mike Hon.

General Mills’ quality brands began with Gold Medal Flour in 1880. General Mills is now home to some of the world’s best-loved brands, including: Betty Crocker, Green Giant and Cheerios.

Customer of the Year Award, Graco  

The Customer of the Year Award is presented to a company that has provided exceptional work opportunities to Opportunity Partners’ participants. Since 2004, Graco has provided 5,000 hours of work for people with disabilities each year. Everyday, up to 10 people package a variety of filters and strainers for the company. In 2010, more than 200,000 units were packaged for Graco. Karl Hurston, Strategic Sourcing Manager at Graco, accepted the award.

Founded in 1926, Graco is a world leader in fluid handling systems and components.  

New Customer of the Year Award, Lunds & Byerly’s

Julie Griffin, Director of Lunds & Byerly’s’ Private Brands, accepted the New Customer of the Year Award. In the last year, a 100-person workforce from Opportunity Partners packaged more than 70,000 tubs containing 35 varieties of candy.

Lund Food Holdings Inc. owns and operates 10 Lunds’ and 11 Byerly’s’ supermarkets in the Twin Cities and surrounding areas.

The awards were presented by Opportunity Partners’ President and CEO, George Klauser. Four Opportunity Partners participants helped present the awards: Andy Tanghe, Katie Worrell, Jake Kukla and Michael Young.     

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DSPAM seeks board, committee members

The Direct Support Professional Association of Minnesota (DSPAM) is currently seeking nominations and applications for both board members for 2012-2013 and committee members for 2012.  Direct support professionals, direct support consumers, self-advocates, family members of consumers/self-advocates, and professionals working in a disability-related field are encouraged to apply. 

To volunteer or nominate someone, you can do any of the following quick and easy steps to submit the full name, e-mail address, and phone number for you or the person you're nominating:

• use our online form by 11:59:59 p.m. Central Time on Sunday, December 4; or,
• mail the information postmarked no later than Wednesday, November 30 to DSPAM; 800 Transfer Road, Suite 7A; St. Paul, MN 55114.

DSPAM is a non-profit 501(c)(3) membership organization working to improve the quality of human services provided to persons with disabilities.  It does this by strengthening the Direct Support Professional (DSP) workforce.  DSPAM is a volunteer-driven organization affiliated with the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP). DSPAM strives to help reduce turnover rates; increase social status; improve training opportunities and programs; increase educational and career opportunities; plus enhance wages paid and benefits offered for DSPs.

Members of DSPAM generally fall into the following three categories:

• DSPs and front-line supervisors;
• self-advocates (i.e. individuals experiencing chronic illness or disability) and family members; and,
• other professionals who work in Minnesota's chronic illness and disability communities.

The board of directors has operating and oversight responsibility for the Minnesota chapter.  Presently, the Board meets quarterly in St. Paul.  The Board is responsible for ensuring that the organization is operating within the legal standards governing non-profit corporations in the general areas of finance, programming, and oversight.  Therefore, the board must approve the policies, positions, budgets, and plans for the organization.

Each board member is responsible for preparing for, then attending, quarterly board meetings.  Board members are encouraged to stay up-to-date with issues impacting DSPs, asking questions, or otherwise gathering needed information.  Board members also represent the organization at community events, as well as those events hosted by DSPAM.  In addition, each board member must serve on at least one DSPAM committee.

Beside their efforts to recruit new board members, DSPAM is also recruiting DSPAM members and other supportive community members to actively participate with their committees.  These committees meet once a month during months when there isn't a full board meeting. DSPAM has three basic committees with a variety of subcommittees available for participants. 

• Legislative Policy Committee keeps tabs on laws, regulations, and policies that might impact DSPs in Minnesota.  Committee members often talk with legislators and decision-makers to be sure they are informed of these issues.  Sometimes, committee members will testify at the Legislature or even help to write pieces of bills with legislators.
• Communication Committee helps to develop content for the organization's website, Facebook page, and LinkedIn group.  Plus, responsible for creating a newsletter that is distributed via e-mail and posted online.  In addition, they create and distribute press releases and other printed material for our membership.
• Membership Development Committee focuses on recruiting new members to the organization, making presentations, conducting training, facilitating relationship-building, and offering information for DSPs, front-line supervisors, direct support providers, and the general community.  This committee is active in various conferences, trade shows, and community events.  Information conveyed may relate to DSPAM membership, DSP certification, issues facing DSPs, and other direct support topics.  The committee also hosts the annual meeting, DSP recognition, and community awards event.

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Community Involvement Programs lands in Star Tribune’s Top Workplaces 2010

Last week, we told you about Hammer's noteworthy acheivment of being named in the Star Tribune's Top Workplaces in the Twin Cities. This week, we learned that another ARRM member, Community Involvement Programs, also received a similar distinction, garnering the 32nd ranking for a midsized company. Please read the press release below for more information, and congratulations to our members for their outstanding accomplishments!

Minneapolis, MN June 30, 2010 – Community Involvement Programs (CIP) has been named one of the Top Workplaces in the Twin Cities metro area based on an employee-based survey project from the Star Tribune.  The Star Tribune Top Workplaces special section was published in the Star Tribune on Sunday, June 20. The report can also be found at StarTribune.com/topworkplaces.

Produced by the same team that compiles the 19-year-old Star Tribune 100 report of the best-performing public companies in Minnesota, Top Workplaces recognizes the most progressive companies in the metro based on employee opinions about company leadership, career opportunities, workplace flexibility, compensation and benefits.  The analysis included responses from over 33,000 employees at Minnesota public, private and nonprofit organizations.

The rankings in the Star Tribune top places to work are based on survey information collected by Workplace Dynamics, an independent company specializing in employee engagement and retention.

Community Involvement Programs was ranked 32 on the midsize company list.

Community Involvement Programs is a non-profit organization that supports individuals with disabilities. Our roots are in the city of Minneapolis, but we provide services throughout the Twin Cities metropolitan area, as well as in Pine County. As an organization, we are committed to being responsive to the individual needs and preferences of each person we support.  Please visit our website at www.cipmn.org for additional information.

Star Tribune Publisher Michael J.  Klingensmith said, “I congratulate each of the companies in the Star Tribune Top Workplaces on their outstanding accomplishment.  They have succeeded in creating a positive workplace for their employees during very challenging economic times.” 

To qualify for the Star Tribune Top Workplaces, a company must have more than 50 employees in the Twin Cities metro area.  Over 1,000 companies were invited to participate.  Rankings were composite scores calculated purely on the basis of employee responses.

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Opportunity Partners welcomes new DTH Director

July 8, 2010 -  Rick Hammergren of Cottage Grove brings his experience in human services to a leadership position as Director of Day Training and Habilitation Services (DTH) at Opportunity Partners, a Twin Cities nonprofit organization providing employment, training and residential services to 1,500 people with disabilities annually.

Rick contributes his expertise in strategic planning, policy development, budget planning, new business development and quality assurance. He oversees programs at multiple Opportunity Partners locations.

He served as Chief Operations Officer for Arc Greater Twin Cities from 2006-2009 and Associate Director of Arc Hennepin-Carver from 2004-2006. Rick has also worked for REM Minnesota as State Director (2003-2004) and Administrator (1992-2003).

“I am pleased to join Opportunity Partners and look forward to contributing my ideas to better serve our clients, engage our stakeholders and operate most effectively and efficiently,” said Rick.

Opportunity Partners – redefining “disability” through advanced learning, deep community support, and meaningful work – proving that everyone, when given the opportunity, adds value to our world. Help redefine disability – become a partner in our cause at www.OpportunityPartners.org.

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U.S. Senate Declares National Direct Support Professionals Regonition Weel

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 31, 2009
Contact: Denise Patton-Pace
(703) 201-6689
dpatton.pace@gmail.com

U.S. SENATE DECLARES NATIONAL DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS RECOGNITION WEEK

Resolution highlights service of direct support workforce the week of September 14

Alexandria, VA – In a show of bipartisan support, the U.S. Senate unanimously approved Senate Resolution 228 designating the week beginning September 14 as “National Direct Support Professionals Recognition Week.” Sponsored by Senator Ben Nelson (D-NE), the resolution recognizes the invaluable supports Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) provide and the difference this workforce makes in the lives of Americans with disabilities.

“This resolution will draw positive attention to the millions of professionals across the country who help support individuals living with disabilities,” said Senator Nelson. “They often work long hours with little pay, but their contributions are critical. Today we recognize their dedication and vital role in enhancing the lives of individuals with disabilities of all ages.”

“We are proud that the U.S. Senate has bestowed this recognition in honor of the direct support workforce and the tremendous impact they have in communities across the country,” said Renee Pietrangelo, ANCOR CEO.

The resolution received considerable attention in the Senate and gained nine co-sponsors including, Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS), Senator Jim Bunning (R-KY), Senator Thomas Carper (D-DE), Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), Senator Christopher Dodd (D-CT) Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA), Senator John Kerry (D-MA), Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY), and Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME).

This recognition by the Senate is important as ANCOR’s National Advocacy Campaign (NAC) works to increase funding for DSPs and improve supports and services for people with disabilities. The low wages and difficult work often lead to high turnover of DSPs. The recognition of DSP week is another victory in the fight to improve wages, education and training, and enhance the quality of services individuals with disabilities and their families receive.

About ANCOR

The American Network of Community Options and Resources is the premier national association representing more than 850 private providers of community living and employment supports and services to more than 385,000 individuals with disabilities. As a nonprofit organization, ANCOR successfully addresses the needs and interests of private providers before Congress and federal agencies, continually advocating for the crucial role private providers play in enhancing and supporting the lives of people with disabilities and their families. The ANCOR National Advocacy Campaign was created to provide a focus on this critical workforce issue. For more information, visit www. youneedtoknowme.org.

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1101 King Street, Suite 380, Alexandria, VA 22314 │ 703.535.7860 │ www.ancor.org

ANCOR press release on workforce wage survey

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Denise Patton-Pace

February 17, 2009
(703) 201-6689
dpattonpace@ancor.org 

ANCOR Releases Results of National Direct Support Workforce Wage Survey

Federal Legislation Introduced to Help Close the Wage Gap Between Public and Private Providers

ALEXANDRIA, Virginia – The American Network of Community Options and Resources (ANCOR) today released the results of a national survey that clearly illustrate the growing need for increased federal funding for low-wage workers who provide supports to people with disabilities. The 2008 Direct Support Professionals Wage Study, which was conducted in partnership between ANCOR and the Mosaic Collaborative for Disabilities Public Policy and Practice, imparts a sobering view of a national healthcare workforce in crisis.

Direct Support Professionals (DSP) provide “hands on” daily supports, training and habilitative services to persons with developmental and physical disabilities. Analysis of survey results compared wages among DSPs employed by private providers with those who work for state-run programs.

The national average starting wage for private provider DSPs in community programs is $8.53 per hour, compared to the average starting wage of $12.13 for state-employed DSPs – representing a 42 percent difference. Annualized, the average entry wage for a private provider DSP falls just short of the federal poverty level as the private DSP entry wage is $17,744 compared to the federal baseline (for a family of three) at $17,600.

“The wage disparity among private and public DSPs is startling,” said Renee Pietrangelo, CEO of ANCOR. “As demand for the supports provided by DSPs grows exponentially, low wages will prevent private providers from attracting and retaining a qualified workforce.”

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 49 percent increase in the number of direct care positions that will be needed between 2006 and 2016. This problem is compounded by the fact that the workforce is almost entirely funded by the Medicaid program.

“Without an increase in dedicated Medicaid funds from the federal government to the states, wages for DSPs working in the community will continue to stagnate,” said Peter Kowalski, president of ANCOR. “Coupled with the growing number of Americans who are projected to need the critical supports provided by DSPs, we are witnessing a healthcare crisis of significant proportion.”

Legislation introduced in the 111th Congress addresses the workforce wage issue. Rep. Lois Capps (D-CA) and Rep. Lee Terry (R-NE) have sponsored H.R. 868, a bill to amend the Social Security Act to provide funds to states to enable them to increase the wages paid to targeted direct support professionals who are providing services to individuals with disabilities under Medicaid. There is no federal mandate for participation, but states that choose to participate will realize pay parity between private and public direct support professionals. 

About ANCOR

The American Network of Community Options and Resources is a national association representing more than 850 private providers of community living and employment supports and services to more than 400,000 individuals with disabilities. As a nonprofit organization, ANCOR successfully addresses the needs and interests of private providers, which employ nearly a half million DSPs, before Congress and federal agencies, continually advocating for the crucial role private providers play in enhancing and supporting the lives of people with disabilities and their families. Through the National Advocacy Campaign, ANCOR seeks to obtain the resources to recruit, train and retain a sustainable direct support workforce.

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