USING THE “C” WORD: ADD Commissioner’s Forum February 20, 2003 Marianne Taylor, Human Services Research Institute

COVENANTS OF COMMUNITY SUPPORT

WHAT ARE THE PROMISES IN OUR SYSTEM OF COMMUNITY SUPPORT?  Quality support every day  Choices & control  The chance to learn, grow, plan and dream  Value – money well spent  Resources to do a good job – Education & training; Decent working conditions; Living wage; Leadership and the chance to fulfill a mission

Covenants and commitments The New Freedom Initiative My Administration is committed to tearing down the barriers to equality that face many of the 54 million Americans with disabilities... My New Freedom Initiative will help Americans with disabilities by increasing access to assistive technologies, expanding educational opportunities, increasing the ability of Americans with disabilities to integrate into the workforce, and promoting increased access into daily community life. President George W. Bush in the Forward to the New Freedom Initiative (Executive Order 13217)

WHO WILL PROVIDE SUPPORT:  Rapid job growth - services & retail accounting for ¾ of all wage & job growth to 2010  over half of 20 million new jobs added by 2008 will be in service sector (17% expansion)  Human services will need to fill from 1.2 million to 1.6 million new jobs by 2010.

Human Service Job Growth Compared to other industries/jobs  Human/ Social services, except child-care, ranks among the fastest growing industries.  Personal and Home Care Aides is the seventh fastest growing occupation in the nation  Human service workers and assistants is the ninth fastest  Residential counselor is the twelfth fastest Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook – Edition

…If a promise you don’t keep…

“C” STANDS FOR CAREER

How do we adopt a career focus?  Kick it up a notch - Revise your image of the Direct support role  Build career and educational pathways

A New Vision: Direct Support as a Profession The Direct Support Professional assists the participant to lead a self- directed life and contribute to his/her community; and encourages attitudes and behaviors that enhance inclusion in his/her community

Why are credential programs important to a career focus?  Potential workers, educators & policy makers see dead end job.  Much training is irrelevant -out of touch  People need to see where their going, how they get there and what they get when they arrive  Implication is we have to show and build career paths to add value to the role  Valid content - competencies  Credentials create scaffolds for career advncement

The core of direct service practice  Technical Skill  Ethical practice  Knowledge

NADSP Champions Apprenticeship v Industry driven and Voluntary v Establishes national patterns for work based learning and related instruction v Patterns based on CSSS, NADSP Code of Ethics and DSP Professionalism v Affordable, flexible v Portable, nationally recognized v Focuses DOL attention and potential resources to industry

Apprenticeship Features v Work-based learning outlines: 2784 hours Orientation to the DSP Role : Topics – job description and requirements, Overview of needs of people receiving support; employer’s philosophy & mission; employer policy & procedures; v Related Instruction – classroom based: 216 hours Intro to DDEthical & Professional Practice Supporting People’s Well BeingSpecial Topics Customized to Planning & Facilitating Supportwork setting Empowerment and CitizenshipSupporting Healthy Lifestyles

Benchmarks of a Quality Career/ Credential Program  Competency Based - draws from CSSS or other relevant validated, competency set  Transportable - parallel curricula & identical awards at different sites  Guided by a coalition of stakeholders: educators, employers, employees, consumers  Accessible - cost, location, support  Articulates to other educational awards, AA, BA  Must add value - higher wage, college credit, expanded career opportunities  Use valid, reliable, fair assessments  Incorporate method of revising standards  Call for periodic recertification/ renewal

Certificate of Initial Proficiency in Direct Support The PATHS Direct Support Career Tree Certificate of Advanced Proficiency in Direct Support Registration Specialization Direct Support Supervision Program / Habilitation Manager Positive Behavior Support Person Centered Planning ? ?

As advocates let’s make sure that people keep their promises!

Web sites: nadsp.org AND hsri.org