Western-Star.com

"Uh-oh, it's Becky, Becky boo," Gloria Silas sang as Becky Hughes, 33, wobbled into the room.

Because of her developmental disability, Hughes requires a walker to get around. But now she leaned on the wall, then the table, working her way toward Silas' open arms.

"You look pretty today," Silas said, taking her up. Hughes laughed so hard her body shook.

The goal of the Butler County Quality Cooperative is to get more people like Silas, according to Keith Banner, quality assurance coordinator for the Butler County Board of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities.

MRDD caregivers like Silas work long hours and are paid little more than minimum wage. With a few dozen hours of training, they are entrusted with vulnerable human beings who rely on them as their main contact with the outside world.

"Oftentimes they don't get a good role model in how to do their job ... then there (they) are for 24 hours working with folks," Banner said.

With roughly $2,000 in state grant and local levy funds, Banner produced a video to inspire caregivers to focus on the quality of care they provide. To inspire them to care, and understand the payback: "The job has a lot of benefits that you can't really put on paper," he said.

The Butler County Quality Cooperative consists of MRDD staff, care providers, clients and client family members. They advocate caregiver training and access to services for MRDD clients.

They do that by focusing on "quality of life." This is an indefinable concept for many; something just out of reach — a raise, a new car, a stainless steel refrigerator.

For Hughes, it's about getting a hug. And it is Silas' pleasure, not just her job, to provide it.