Bob Sandidge from The Care Campaign: Interview

Hello Mr. Sandidge,

Thank you for being willing to spend your time helping me answer some questions on behalf of the paraprofessional community.  I know that some of these questions have been answered by the audio interview that you have posted on the Care Campaign website, but I also know that many of my readers may be confused about the intricacies about how funding staff happens in the field that they work in.  I appreciate any answers or resources you might share with me, and I know that my readers will as well.

1.  Why are you petitioning the State of Illinois to raise the wages for direct support workers, when many of these workers do not work for the state, but rather for private or non-profit companies?

The direct support workers who work primarily for non-profit agencies are paid by allocations from the state.  This is part of a service formula for each client we serve whether in the community or in a community residence.  A certain amount is allocated for DSPs for the support and care of the individuals being served.  Generally, the public, and sometimes the employees, don't know that the employing agency doesn't have discretion over pay increases for the direct care staff. 

2.  When was the last wage increase for DSPs?

2007 was the last legislative pay increase which went into effect in FY2008.

There was some great news this last week though-  Governor Quinn heard the Care Campaign and included $1 an hour increase for DSPs in the FY2015 budget. The $1/hour increase is due to begin in January 2015! 

3.  What sorts of people and organizations, other than DSPs, are signing the petitions and working with the Care Campaign to help meet their goals?  (I sort of imagine other organization administrators, parents, individuals with disabilities, and other persons being among the crowd, though if it is only other DSPs that seem to be supporting The Care Campaign, that is useful information as well)

Good question.   Actually, The Care Campaign is a coalition of a number of service agencies, unions, and parents organizations.

The Arc of Illinois parents and families are supporting the program because they know that better pay will mean that people providing supports for their relative will be able to stay in the job and provide a continuity of support through time.

AFSCME is also part of the group and are getting out the word to their members across the state.

Currently the sponsoring members of Core Campaign are contacting senators and reps. from districts across the state to enlist support and have them sign on to support the bills.  Many of the homes and organizations employing DSPs are all over the state and the money that DSPs make flows into those communities for housing, food, living expenses so there is a plus to local economies across the state.

Clearly, communities as well as families, clients, and workers have a stake in this increase.  As people understand the flow of increases into the local economies it is easier to enlist support of community members and leaders.

4.  I've talked to many DSPs who have not heard of the Care Campaign, and yet you seem to be having a lot of success already in your endeavors.  What means have you been using to gather DSP support?

We have reached out a DSPs primarily through their employing organizations, however, at this point not all agencies throughout the state are on board with the campaign. In fact, the next phase of the Care Campaign is reaching out to every impacted organization in the state to position them to respond when we need calls to their legislators.  The fact that Governor Quinn put the $1 in his proposed budget by no means insures that the actual dollars will be passed in the House and Senate.

Reaching all of the DSPs in the state… there are about 24,000, is a challenge. The Care Campaign needs the support of DSPs and others as we get to the voting stage on legislation that we have been working to get in front of the legislative bodies in Illinois.

5.  How does The Care Campaign hope to accomplish their goals?

The first stages of the Care Campaign have been to enlist sponsors of legislation, which we have in both the House and Senate, and to make the Governor aware of the issue, which we have with our delivery of 18,000 postcards to him. The steps of getting legislation to support have been done. That part doesn't require massive support but is done by sponsoring members of the Core Campaign.

Now that we have something to support, we go to the next phase which is to reach out to not only DSP's but all members of the support community across the state.

6.  If one of my readers were interested, in what ways could they support the Care Campaign?

We need to keep encouraging people to sign the petition on the CareCampaignHQ.com site and
to sign up for the newsletter and to thank the Governor for putting the $1 in his proposed budget (at CareCampaignHQ.com/gov).   Every DSP and support worker needs to be a self-advocate to family, friends, associates, neighbors and community leaders and influencers- Not only to enlist support for the bills we need to pass for appropriations, but also to inform the community about the good and important work they are doing.  We’d also like to encourage DSPs and other workers throughout the state to blog, talk and share on social media so that more and more of the community is aware of the issue and, hopefully, will give it their full support.

This is a multi-year task. Even if we get what we are asking for, the increases will be a few dollars a year for a few years. And, depending on other budget variables, we may not get a vote this session but will need to push ahead for next year’s session. We are in it for the long haul and need long haul support.

Thank you again for answering my questions, Mr. Sandidge.  It was a pleasure to have you on Paraconfessional.  Good luck in your efforts.