Lake County DAC Direct Support Staff Celebrated

This past week was des­ignated as Direct Support Professionals Recognition Week throughout the state of Minnesota. Mayor Lew Conner met with a number of Lake County DAC staff members on Monday and read a proclamation honor­ing the service that they pro­vide to their clients and to the community as a whole. The proclamation read in part, “Direct Support Pro­fessionals are valued for the trusted and respectful rela­tionships they build while assisting individuals with their personal needs. They “provide essential support that helps individuals with disabilities stay connected to family, friends, cowork­ers, and their communities, helping them live fulfilling and self-directed lives. Di­rect Support Professionals deliver a wide range of in­dividualized support, in­cluding meal preparation, medication assis­tance, personal care, life skills training, mobility, work and life en­richment oppor­tunities, and other daily tasks. Direct Support Profes­sionals honor the choices of indi­viduals through practices that pro­mote dignity, in­dependence, and inclusion. Public officials and com­munity members play an important role in recognizing the contributions of Direct Support Professionals, raising awareness of workforce chal­lenges, and sup­porting and fund­ing that ensures fair wages and sustainable careers for this essential workforce”.

There are more than 100,000 individuals who are differently abled in Min­nesota. About 20 of those individuals live right here in our community. The Lake County DAC has a staff of 10 dedicated professionals who support those 20 cli­ents in a variety of ways. Super One, Kwiktrip, Circle K and Agate Bay Assisted Living are among the local businesses that employ the DACs clients.

The Minnesota Depart­ment of Human Services es­timated that the State direct care workforce numbers in the hundreds of thousands. Direct Support Profession­als are among the fastest growing occupations in Minnesota and are critical for meeting the needs of people in the State with dis­abilities and reducing use of more costly settings such as hospitals or institutions.

Congratulations to the staff at Lake County DAC! Folks who would like to learn more about the DAC or who are interested in vol­unteering, can call 218-834- 5767. You can also find the Lake County DAC online by googling, Lake County Development Achievement Center.