I Am DSP- Support Illinois Direct Support Professionals

Wage Increase for Community Direct Care, Direct Support and Non-Executive DD and MH staff

http://www.iarf.org/video/ANCHORExtra.wmv

Investment: $27.5 million ($13.75 million GRF; $13.75 million Medicaid match)

Return:

• Every study for the last five years has said wages for direct support professionals must be increased.
  
  
• These facts have become more critical as Illinois increased the minimum wage by $1 in the last year; with another $.25 increase to be effective July 1, 2008 and a final increase of $.50 next year.
  
  
• Using salary data from the IARF Salary Survey, it is estimated the $.50/hour increase in DSP wages included in the FY09 budget (January 1, 2009) will increase wages to a statewide average of $7.75 for entry level DD-DSP (no bachelor's required) and to a statewide average of $8.29 for entry level MH-DSP (bachelor's degree required for most).
  
  
• The Paraprofessional Healthcare Institute Index calculator suggests a reduction in turnover costs of approximately $407,374 statewide based on the $.50/hour increase could allow more than 37 new DSP to be hired as a result.