Mayor Emily Larson proclaims Direct Support Professional Week in Duluth, recognizes caregiver of the year.
DULUTH, MINN. – ARRM, a statewide association representing more than 200 direct care providers and supporting service providers for people with disabilities in Minnesota, joined with Duluth Mayor Emily Larson in a ceremony today proclaiming Direct Support Professional (DSP) Recognition Week in Duluth, and celebrating more than a dozen DSPs nominated for their outstanding service, including one of six statewide caregivers of the year.
DSPs are professional staff that support people with disabilities to live as independently as possible in the community, helping individuals with critical care and achieving their goals and passions for a greater quality of life. Performing regular duties such as medication management, hygiene care, independent living skill building, and employment support, DSPs support more than 35,000 Minnesotans across the state, including several hundred in Duluth and the surrounding communities. The week of recognition is a national initiative to bring greater awareness to the profession, which struggles from a growing workforce shortage.
“DSPs provide support to individuals with disabilities to stay connected to family, friends, coworkers and the community, helping them to define and live a quality of life,” said Mayor Larson at a city hall ceremony this morning. “Therefore, I do officially proclaim September 8-14 as Direct Support Professionals Appreciation Week in the City of Duluth.”
Also recognized at today’s ceremony were more than a dozen area-DSPs identified for outstanding performance and achievement in the field, including Sharon Johnston who was selected by ARRM to receive its ARRM Cares Award, given annually to six of the top DSPs in the state out of a field of more than 20,000 eligible professionals. Sharon is an employee of Tender Loving Care of Duluth and provides respite support to children and families. Respite care is a critical area of support as it allows those families serving as primary caregivers a brief reprieve and can help extend the period where families are able to provide care and support.
“Because of the population they work with and the intensity of their responsibilities, a DSP requires a high level of professionalism, skill, training, and compassion,” said Sue Schettle, CEO of ARRM. “The care and support they provide is a critical public service for meeting the state’s obligation to ensure people with disabilities have the opportunities to lead self-directed lives as part of their communities. We’re honored to recognize Sharon for her tremendous talent, dedication and impact.”
Johnston has worked in the field for three years, supporting many families during that time. While respite care often comes in short 24-48 hour increments, she ensures that time continues to be filled with individualized support and care, including enriching community engagement and social activity to fit the child’s personality for whom she is supporting, sometimes above and beyond what they are able to access at home. This type of support is essential for achieving one of the primary goals for DSPs: to strengthen community inclusion.
“Sharon has an outsized impact on the individuals and the families she supports for the time she has with them,” said Keven Johnson, Chief Administrative Officer for Tender Loving Care. “She makes the most of every minute she has with the people she supports, and as a result she is strengthening the overall level of care and support they receive. She is most deserving of this recognition.”
ARRM is touring the state recognizing each of the six ARRM Cares Award winners during Direct Support Professional Recognition Week. Learn more about the ARRM Cares Award and current winners at www.ARRM.org/ARRM-Cares.
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