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October's Partner Profile:
HSI Uses CDS To Solve Logistical Training
Challenges for Its Dispersed DSP Workforce
Rachel Harr, left, is CDS Administrator at HSI, and she's pictured here with Brenda Behrends, the author of this month's Partner Profile
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Brenda Behrends, the Education Coordinator at Habilitative Services, Inc., started her research in April 2005 when she first heard Bill Tapp announce the College of Direct Support's partnership with ANCOR (The American Network of Community Options and Resources). "The light bulb went on…. I realized it was time to check out on-line learning for our organization and CDS looked too good to be true," she said.
In April 2006 she agreed to participate in a work session through the Research and Training Center on Community Living at the University of Minnesota about the CDS. "We completed the task of developing state annotations for CDS Minnesota. Being part of this strengthened my understanding of CDS and the benefits it could bring to our agency," she said.
In June of 2006 HSI purchased the CDS to train 100 learners. Then in April of 2008 it went company wide, she said.
Today, HSI and CDS remain partners as this Minnesota agency improves the professionalism of its 1,200 Direct Support Professionals by using the CDS in its eight training locations. HSI supports 650 individuals in an 18-county area in southern and southwest Minnesota. It is a dispersed workforce, to say the least.
The HSI and CDS story is told by Brenda in October's Partner Profile.
Here are some excerpts from the Partner Profile:
"A specific challenge led us at Habilitative Services, Inc. (HSI) of Lakefield, Minnesota to the College of Direct Support (CDS). Our challenge was to find a way to provide consistent, high-quality training that typified our instructor-led classes in a way that could accommodate the scheduling demands of our dispersed workforce and would also support and facilitate professional growth. Using our Guiding Principles as a compass we explored many options to help solve these challenges and ultimately selected the CDS as the best overall solution.
"HSI is a professional organization founded in 1985 dedicated to supporting individuals with disabilities in their pursuit of personal achievement and well-being. We support more than 650 individuals in 18 Minnesota counties with a workforce of approximately 1,200 trained professionals. Training everyone in a central location has never been an option."
Brenda says that HSI "took a unique back door approach in implementing CDS" and that approach is indeed unique.
Click on this LINK to read Brenda's full Partner Profile on how the CDS "has made a huge difference" at HSI and is an "integral part" of its quest to deliver high-quality supports.
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CDS-Therap ‘No. 4' Set in Indianapolis,
Marks One Year of Joint Conferences
Amy Hewitt
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The College of Direct Support (CDS) and Therap Services are inviting you to Indianapolis, IN for their one-year anniversary celebration of the unique "Side-by-Side Technology" conferences that began in October 2008.
That first joint conference in Kansas City spawned two more conferences and now a fourth --"Side-by-Side Technology: Therap, CDS Training Conference IV" will be held on Oct. 20-22 in Indianapolis, IN, at the Holiday Inn North at The Pyramids.
From Kansas City to Murfreesboro, TN, to Denver and now to Indianapolis, this event brings together the two industry leaders in utilizing web-based technology in the field of developmental disabilities.
The fee for the Tuesday-Thursday event is $150 and that includes all meals – breakfast, lunch and dinner. Those attending will need to make their reservations at the hotel and ask for the Therap conference block rate of $89 per night. Call 312-872-9790 to make your hotel reservations. Simply click on this LINK you will have access to the registration information and details.
We'll have a new guest speaker for the conference -- Dr. Amy Hewitt of the University of Minnesota's Research and Training Center and the Institute on Community Integration (ICI). Hewitt is a Senior Research Associate and Training Director at the ICI. In her position she is responsible for developing the CDS curriculum and oversees the authoring of the CDS courses. She will be presenting on the use of technology and workforce transformation.
This conference again will feature an array of interactive sessions and workshops focusing on the services provided by both CDS and Therap and how to take advantage of both and bridge from one technology to the other. Participants will learn about the CDS curriculum and the many features of its Learning Management System.
There will be specific sessions for advanced users, for system administrators and for potential users of CDS or Therap. Use this LINK to see the complete day-by-day schedule and the array of sessions and topics that will be covered.
"The Side by Side format has proven to be an excellent and cost effective way to connect and introduce our College of Direct Support users to other contemporary technology systems," said Bill Tapp, CDS President and founder. "The conferences continue to bring together the most progressive technology providers in a casual venue. From the beginning user to the most advanced, it seems that we are able to meet the learning needs of many in these unique conference settings. "
We have two sponsoring organizations for this conference. One, Rest Assured, also sponsored the second joint training conference in Tennessee. One other organization will be at this conference – Web Footed Friends, Inc.
Rest Assured is a real-time monitoring system with two-way communications that started in 2001. Broadband wireless technology is used to link individual homes to a central monitoring station. Benefits include home safety and security, quick access to support when needed, weather alerts, and independence with just the right amount of oversight. This new telecare service seeks to ensure the same level of safety and security for consumers,
Web Footed Friends, Inc. is an applied research firm developing and supporting talent management systems in human services to get the right people in specific positions to increase productivity, customer satisfaction and industry capacity that fosters growth and enhances quality of consumer support. The principals of the firm have had 30-plus years experience in psychometrics. WFF has focused on organizational development for 15 years.
You can click on THIS LINK to learn more about the conference and to register for it. If you have questions, call Therap at 203.596.7553.
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The DSP Chronicles Profiles SCL's
Youngest Manager Who Is Mr. Calm
Daniel Escojido is an interesting young man, a Direct Support Professional and House Manager at age 26.
Attracting young people into the field of direct support is not easily done. Retaining them is even harder. When he was 22 years old, Daniel was hired by Supported Community Lifestyles (SCL) in Ponca City, OK. Today, he is the agency's youngest supervisor.
"Is he mature beyond his 26 years?" Marcie Grace said, repeating the question. "For sure!" Marcie is SCL's Residential Program Director and has been working with Daniel for three years. "Some people in this field have got it, and some don't have it. Daniel's got it. He's a natural."
Daniel Escojido
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Daniel is the house manager for the Cann House, an alternative group home at SCL, and supervises 12 people – four men he has supported for four years and a cadre of eight Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) who provide round-the-clock supports.
Jeanette Johnson is SCL's Program Coordinator and is Daniel's direct supervisor. "He has some of our most difficult clients and they trust him and we all trust him" she said. "He sets the bar high and is a role model as a DSP and as a supervisor. He truly cares for everyone he supports and you can see the compassion and care he has in everything he says and does."
Daniel and client having fun
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He was promoted to House Manager in May 2009 and was recently presented with an Award of Excellence in Direct Support Services by the Oklahoma Department of Human Services and its Developmental Disabilities Services Division (DDSD). Daniel was nominated for recognition in "The DSP Chronicles" by Michaela Bishop, the Director of Training for the state's DDSD.
Click on The DSP Chronicles to read the rest of his story!
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ANCOR Foundation Accepting Nominations
For Its 2010 Community Builder Awards
The ANCOR Foundation is seeking nominations for the 2010 Community Builder Award (CBA) that recognizes exemplary and praiseworthy initiatives of individuals and/or communities/community organizations that help build social capital for individuals with disabilities.
The Community Builder Award, a distinguished award with the highest level of professional acknowledgment, seeks to showcase outstanding achievements in three key areas:
- An approach or service that serves as a model for others in creating community inclusion
- Recognizing individuals and organizations dedicated to creating inclusive opportunities for people with disabilities, especially when the organization is an invisible support for this effort and the community is front and center of this effort
- Rewarding individuals and organizations that partner with civic organizations, educational institutions, employers or volunteers to create a community of inclusion. These organizations and/or individuals will have demonstrated the understanding that when we make community better for all citizens we make it better for individuals with disabilities.
Deadline for applications is Friday, October 30.
Applications can be found online by clicking here.
To learn more about the award, click here.
Recipients will be invited to share their award winning practice with the ANCOR community at ANCOR's 2010 Management Practices Conference and Trade Show, April 11-13, 2010 in New Orleans.
These awards are presented in two categories:
- Service Provider
- Community/ Community Member
The Community Builder Awards are sponsored by the ANCOR Foundation, the non-profit charitable arm of ANCOR. The ANCOR Foundation's mission is to build the commitment and capacity of providers and communities to improve the lives of individuals with disabilities.
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Wisconsin Pilot Project Evaluation
Reports Positive Outcomes Using CDS
Derek Nord
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The College of Direct Support (CDS) Wisconsin Pilot Project began in 2008 with the goal of providing Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) with training that would help people with developmental disabilities have stable, well-trained, competent and confident DSPs.
This pilot project is a collaboration of the Board for People with Developmental Disabilities (BPDD), formerly the Wisconsin Council on Developmental Disabilities, in partnership with the University of Wisconsin Madison Waisman Center and the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh Center for Career Development and Employability Training (CCDET). This team initiated a Direct Service Workforce Training Initiative using CDS.
The October 2009 Evaluation Brief is authored by Derek Nord, Research Associate at the University of Minnesota's Institute on Community Integration.
Here is an excerpt from the Evaluation Brief: "The results of these surveys show that CDS online training is successful in the Wisconsin Pilot Project, resulting in competent and confident DSPs who enjoy their jobs."
To read the full Evaluation Brief, please click on this LINK.
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'Body & Soul: Diana & Kathy' Film
To Air This Fall on PBS Nationwide
Alice Elliott
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The story and lives of Diane Braun and Kathy Conour come alive for all to see this fall with Alice Elliott's film "Body & Soul: Diana & Kathy" making its nationwide debut on PBS. This stirring movie chronicles the life of two of the country's most remarkable advocates for people with disabilities -- Diana, who has Down syndrome, and Kathy, who had cerebral palsy.
The release of the film is especially poignant now – Kathy Conour passed away on Sept. 19th. But her story lives!
The film is airing throughout October around the country on PBS as part of the network's National Disabilities Awareness programming. You will need to check with the PBS stations in your local area on when they will broadcast it.
Body & Soul
Movie Poster
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Diana and Kathy met three decades ago and vowed to fight to live independent lives. Fearful of being shut away in a nursing home or forced into a state-run institution, Diana and Kathy broke the rules, escaped the system, and modeled a grand experiment in independent living.
As a result of their efforts, Diana and Kathy are well-known as a tireless and dynamic pair of lobbyists and activists in the disability movement. Although Kathy was non-verbal, through the help of a mouth stick and the Pathfinder assistive communication device, she wrote articles for national magazines and had a lively email correspondence with leaders in the disability rights movement. Kathy also served on boards, and lobbied effectively for disability rights. Kathy was once even arrested, power chair and all. Diana drives, cooks, shops, takes care of scheduling doctor's appointments and was Kathy's personal assistant and friend for more than 35 years.
The film has received a number of awards and recognitions, including a nomination from the International Documentary Association for the Distinguished Short Documentary Award and the TASH Positive Images in Media Award (shared with Including Samuel).
Diana and Kathy together
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The film was produced, directed, and filmed by Alice Elliott (The Collector of Bedford Street) and edited by Rose Rosenblatt (The Education of Shelby Knox, Live Free or Die), with original music by Rick Baitz. It is a co-production of Alice Elliott and the Independent Television Service (ITVS), with funding provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
CDS will be utilizing "Body and Soul" in a new type of course called "Films For Thought." The Films for Thought (FFT) are a specialized type of course within the CDS. These courses focus on one film and help the learner connect the story within the film to the competencies and skills they have learned in the CDS. Unlike other CDS courses, they have only one longer lesson. This course divides a popular film into chapters. It connects CDS content and learning to the main themes and story line of each of the film's chapters. It then asks the learner to reflect and integrate their CDS learning with the film and their work as a Direct Support Professional (DSP). The course will help DSPs see, hear and feel how many of the issues such as inclusion, advocacy, self-direction, choice, empowerment and support integrated into the CDS are also integrated and played out in real lives of people with disabilities. Learners will find helpful resources and references to refresh their thinking and knowledge about the issues identified in the film.
The story chronicles a journey from their home in Springfield, IL to Washington, D.C. The trip is physically dangerous and technically illegal for them -- Medicare rules require them to be homebound. History has shown, however, the benefits of breaking rules can sometimes outweigh the risks. Although they comprise the largest minority in the United States, people with disabilities are routinely denied equal access and rights. "Body & Soul: Diana & Kathy" exemplifies the abilities of people with disabilities and helps us understand an important and complex social issue.
The film almost didn't happen, however. When Diana and Kathy approached Alice Elliott and asked her to make a film about them, Alice was reluctant. She had just spent five years making her previous film, the Academy Award® nominated short documentary The Collector of Bedford Street, and wasn't ready to plunge into another project.
It had been Kathy's life long dream to have a documentary made about her, so she wouldn't give up. After visiting Diana and Kathy in Springfield, Alice realized what unique subjects they would be and was won over by Kathy's persistence. For five years, Diana and Kathy gave Alice complete access to their lives. During that time, they filmed in Washington, D.C., as well as Chicago and Springfield. Told in an intimate, vérité style, this movie brings audiences into a private world and sweeps us into a way of life rarely seen on screen and seldom understood.
More about the movie can be found at www.dianaandkathy.com
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Five New Members Named to
CDS National Advisory Board
The College of Direct Support (CDS) has five new members joining its National Advisory Board (NAB) that provides a global perspective on the direct care workforce in America to the CDS. Representatives from major national organizations provide us guidance in the development of upcoming CDS curriculum and workforce development tools.
"We truly rely on the NAB for guidance in all that we do, from reviewing and suggesting curricula to getting feedback on our priorities and strategic initiatives," said Bill Tapp, President and Founder of the CDS. "The members of this advisory board are professionals who are involved in this work on a daily basis and offer insights and expertise that have been and will be invaluable as work to build a direct support workforce."
The NAB will come together for two days in November in Minneapolis, MN at the University of Minnesota.
The newest members of the NAB are:
Dr. Mary Held
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Dr. Mary Held, Research Associate/Project Coordinator at the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community at Indiana University. She represents the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD).
Joseph MacBeth
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Joseph MacBeth, Asst. Executive Director of NYSACRA. He represents ANCOR – the American Network of Community Options and Resources.
Colleen McLaughlin
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Colleen McLaughlin, Training and Consultation Specialist at the Elizabeth M. Boggs Center on Development Disabilities. She represents University Centers of Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD).
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Dr. Lynn Rivas, Co-Executive Director of the Consumer Directed Services Network (CDSN).
Dr. Peggy Terhune
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Dr. Peggy Terhune, Executive Director/CEO of Monarch of Albemarle, NC. She represents the Arc of the United States.
"From the beginning it has always been the plan and design of the CDS National Advisory Board to seek representatives from the major national organizations that represent the best of our field. We have since our inception, been fortunate to have the able leadership of five national leaders who are rotating from the NAB," Tapp said. "Our thanks to Wendy Sokol (ANCOR), Kathy Olson (Association of University Centers on Disabilities), Kim Olson ( The Arc of the United States) , Tony Thomas (National Alliance of Direct Support Professionals) and Earl Foxx (Direct Support Professionals of Tennessee). Each of these men and women have provided insight and leadership in the development of the CDS curriculum and learning management system."
Here are short profiles on our new NAB members:
Held works at the Indiana University Center on Community Living and Careers. She coordinates the Indiana Direct Support Professional Development Initiative through a contract with Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) Division of Disability and Rehabilitation Services (DDRS). The Project Focus is on Recruitment and Retention of Direct Support Professionals in Indiana to improve the quality of services and supports provided to individuals and their families. She earned her Ph.D at Indiana University in Curriculum and Instruction, her Masters in Rehabilitation Counseling at Syracuse University and a B.S. in Special Education at Syracuse.
Macbeth has been the Assistant Executive Director at NYSACRA since 2000 and has worked in the field of disabilities for 25 years. While at NYSACRA, he has been responsible for implementing and advancing all of the organization's workforce development activities. Through a variety of state grants, Macbeth started a New York State Chapter of the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals that consists of nearly 1,000 individual members and 27 supporting and affiliate organizations. He has also been instrumental in assisting almost 2,000 Direct Support Professionals and Frontline Supervisors achieve advanced training through the on-line College of Direct Support. In addition to his activities with NYSACRA and the Direct Support Professional Alliance of New York State (DSPANYS), Macbeth sits on the board of directors for the National Alliance of Direct Support Professionals (NADSP) and the American Network of Community Options & Resources (ANCOR) Foundation Board where he developed a concept paper called ‘Careers That Matter Most'.
McLaughlin works with the Boggs Center Self-Directed Supports team in the development and provision of training and technical assistance activities with families, consumers, DDD providers, professionals and community groups. She provides training in Person-Centered Thinking and Essential Lifestyle Planning across the state. She also provides training and technical assistance with regard to workforce development, career paths, and statewide pre-service trainings for direct-support professionals. She has experience as an American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD) Supports Intensity Scale (SIS) trainer, providing education regarding use of the SIS nationally.
Rivas is the co-executive director of the Consumer Directed Services Network, an organization dedicated to training and empowering workers and supporting the right of people with developmental disabilities to have choice and opportunity, as well as, to live integrated lives in the community. Dr. Rivas received her Ph.D. in 2007 from the Department of Sociology at the University of California, Berkeley, where she studied the relationship between The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and the Independent Living Movement. A longtime labor activist, she has worked with various unions, accumulating experiences that have given her an enduring interest in the dynamics of caring labor. Dr. Rivas' relevant publications include: "Invisible Labors: Caring for the Independent Person."; "In Global Woman: nannies, maids, and sex workers in the new economy" edited by Barbara Ehrenreich and Arlie Hochschild; and "A Significant Alliance: The Independent Living Movement, The Service Employees International Union and the Establishment of the First Public Authorities in California" published by the World Institute on Disability.
Terhune has been the Executive Director/CEO of The Arc of Stanly County, Inc., and Arc Services, Inc. -- now renamed Monarch -- since June 1995. Monarch provides residential, vocational, community and behavioral health services to people of all ages with intellectual disabilities, mental illness, and substance abuse issues. Peggy received a BS degree in Occupational Therapy from Indiana University, a Masters in Business Administration from Rochester Institute of Technology, and her Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She has worked with people with disabilities for over 35 years.
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Training Natural Supports
In Your Faith Community
Lisa Burck
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This article appears in the recent issue of "Frontline Initiative" – a publication of the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals.
By Lisa Burck
Quality of life is in the details. We are made to concentrate on the bread and butter of fee-based services for people with disabilities and never seem to get to the bread and wine of life. Recently, members of the congregation from the Chapel of the Cross Episcopal Church in Madison, Mississippi contacted The Arc of Mississippi with an interesting question. What could we teach a group of volunteers from their church that would make them qualified to support their pastor's family with regard to their son with disabilities?
Easy answer: the College of Direct Support. There are so many courses and lessons that speak directly to natural supports. A curriculum of 29 lessons was put together which included portions of
- You've Got a Friend
- Safety
- Introduction to Developmental Disabilities
- Positive Behavior Supports
- Supporting Healthy Lives
- Maltreatment of Vulnerable Adults
- Teaching People with Developmental Disabilities
- Community Inclusion
Every lesson selected targeted specific needs expressed by the volunteers.
Here is what one of the volunteers (Barbara) had to say; "The lessons were of immense benefit to me because I had no experience around people with disabilities. I had great fears that I would do something inappropriate or not be vigilant enough, which could cause injury to the child. The lessons gave me the confidence and enthusiasm to spend time with our pastor's son without fear. The lesson on Vehicle Safety was especially helpful as we often take him on outings to the Natural Science Museum. The lessons were crucial in that they instructed me to do the things the child wanted to do as opposed to what I thought he should do. For example, at the Natural Science Museum he only wanted to watch the alligators. Normally, I would have wanted him to view everything in the museum but I came to understand that watching the alligators was the most meaningful to him. The lessons also helped me communicate with him and know how to help him understand and utilize proper behavior. I highly recommend these lessons for people who have no experience with persons with disabilities – not only will they help specific situations, but they changed my total outlook on all who have disabilities. I am no longer afraid to look people with disabilities in the eye and greet them cheerfully."
As you probably know, the College of Direct Support is managed not according to the number of Direct Support Professionals employed but by the number of people being served and supported. This design purposefully allows the curriculum to be used by all of the people who interact with a person with disabilities. Pastors, Sunday school teachers, peers involved in youth and adult groups, nursery workers, and more would benefit from such an opportunity but no more than the person they support.
Quality of life is often measured by the number of unpaid (natural) supports in a person's life. If Medicaid doesn't pay for the support, does that mean the support is not valid or needed? Consider the spiritual lives of the men, women and children you serve.
The College of Direct Support can facilitate the strengthening of relationships with other members of their congregation. The essence of who and what we are is contained within the relationships we have with others as well as our Creator. Help others be accessible to people they care about and you will have made a difference.
Editor's Note: Lisa Burck is Project Director of the Direct Support Professional Opportunity at The Arc of Mississippi. She also is president of the Board of Directors of the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals and a member of the National Advisory Board for the College of Direct Support. You can contact her at 866.497.1035 or via email at lisaburck@bellsouth.net
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The Admin Corner: Tools, Tips & More
All College of Direct Support (CDS) courses are now being viewed with our newest player. The new player has been streamlined to include a larger screen and more efficient placement of the navigation buttons to provide easier movement through the CDS lessons. We hope that your learners are enjoying the look of our new player.
If you have questions or comments, please get in touch with us.
Here are some more topics for our Administrators:
- Knowledge Manager is a new tool used to create an assignable checklist. Checklists are assigned to learners and graded by designated preceptors. If you want more information about Knowledge Manager, please visit the Administrator Help documents to see Tips and question/answer forums from Judi Rutherford or call Client Services at 1.877.353.2767.
- To encourage informal training or post policies try using the Announcement/Information tool. As an Administrator you can create and assign announcements as well as require your learners to acknowledge that they have read and understood the announcements. You can also manage the start and end date; edit, copy and delete your announcements as needed. If you are interested in using the College of Direct Support Announcement Tool, please contact Client Services at 1.877.353.2767.
- We would like to thank all Therap-CDS Colorado conference attendees for your continued support of our programs. If you are a CDS/Therap customer who has any questions about accessing the Therap-CDS bridge, please contact a client support representative at 1.877.353.2767. Please register for our next Therap-CDS conference, Oct. 20-22, in Indianapolis. Click HERE to obtain the registration information.
- We invite all Administrators to recommend their organizations for our Partner Profiles and the new feature "The DSP Chronicles." Both are archived on our website. Tell us about the accomplishments of one of your company's excellent employees. Explain what the person does, quote the employee as to the challenges of his or her job, how the person strives to do a quality job, etc. This type of article not only gives well-deserved recognition to the featured employee, it also sets a positive example for other employees to follow. Please email your nomination to Tom King, Director of Communications, at tking@collegeofdirectsupport.com
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Mission Statement: The College of Direct Support is a learning gateway for
contemporary best practices for Direct Support Professionals. By incorporating
web-based learning, backed by nationally recognized curricula, the CDS is
designed to promote a profession of direct support.
Tom King is the editor of Connections@CDS and he welcomes your comments on the newsletter as well as suggestions you have for articles and content.
You can email him at tking@collegeofdirectsupport.com or call him (toll free) at 1.877.353.2767.
111 Center Park Drive, Suite 175 | Knoxville, TN 37922
tel :: 877-353-2767 (toll-free) | fax :: 865-531-4708
www.collegeofdirectsupport.com
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