Community SupportsDirect Support Workforce Development

In initiatives to enhance the Direct Support Workforce, The Boggs Center is collaborating with an number of public and private provider agencies and networks in a variety of initiatives to strengthen recruitment, retention and supports for direct support professionals.

The major components of the project are:

• Career Path Pilot
• Statewide Implementation of the College of Direct Support
• Front Line Supervisor and Management Training
• New Jersey Direct Support Professional Association
  
  

Career Path Pilot

In 2007, the NJ Direct Support Professional Workforce Development Coalition began piloting of a Career Path for Direct Support Professionals. This two-year project ending in September 2009 is funded through a grant from the NJ Council on Developmental Disabilities.

Through coordination by The Boggs Center, ten agencies, Allies, Inc., The Arcs of Atlantic, Middlesex, Somerset, and Warren Counties, Bancroft NeuroHealth, Caring with Compassion, Matheny Medical and Educational Center, Partnerships for People, and UCP of Hudson County, are piloting the career path.

The voluntary career path process utilizes the online College of Direct Support in combination with onsite mentors and tiered, competency-based salary increases. Our hope is that this process will provide incentives to people who want to remain in direct care, thus contributing to a reduction in turnover while also enhancing professional skills. The New Jersey pilot joins more than 50,000 individual staff from around the country that are using the online College of Direct Support.

This project will benefit many stakeholders. It will benefit individuals with developmental disabilities being served by the Division of Developmental Disabilities through an increase of skills in DSPs, consistency of care, and an increase in dependable supporter relationships.

Direct Support Professionals receive increased recognition and professionalism, increased knowledge and skills, having a mentor to assist them with accomplishing on the job competencies, and salary increases and greater job satisfaction. Agencies will benefit through increased staff skills leading to fewer incidents and increased DSP job satisfaction. The career path will contribute to greater longevity and reliability, thus reducing turnover.

Background on Direct Support Workforce Development efforts

Career Path

Agency Preparation

Best Practices on Career Path implementation

Career Path Quarterly newsletter Fall 2008

Career Path Quarterly newsletter Spring 2009

Career Path Quarterly Newsletter Fall 2009

Statewide Implementation of the College of Direct Support

As a result of work done by the NJ DSP Workforce Development Coalition and the dedication of stakeholders to improving the human services workforce, the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) plans to purchase the College of Direct Support (CDS) for use statewide. As a result, all agencies that receive funding via DDD through the HCBS waiver will be required to use the CDS.

• The CDS will be used by DDD and the agencies it supports to:
• Track employee hire dates, Pre-Service Training, certifications, etc. (mandatory)
• Offer CDS courses to staff (optional)
• Offer the Career Path to staff (optional)

The Boggs Center will be conducting training on how to administer the CDS for agencies and DDD staff.

Statewide Implementation of the College of Direct Support

College of Direct Support courses

Benefits of the College of Direct Support and Career Path

Front Line Supervisor and Management Training

The Boggs Center offers a series of three courses for managers:

• Survival Skills for Managers in Community Supports
• Leadership Skills for Managers in Community Supports
• Personal Skills for Managers
  
  

New Jersey Direct Support Workforce Development Coalition

The coalition is comprised of professionals from provider agencies, direct support professionals, educators, policy makers, individuals with disabilities and their family members.

The coalition operates a listserv to provide a vehicle for quick, efficient communication amongst everyone in the state committed to strengthen the direct support workforce in New Jersey. Membership to the listserv is open to professionals, agencies, policy makers, educators, individuals with disabilities, and family members in New Jersey. If you are interested in joining the listserv, please email Elizabeth Ong at the Boggs Center.

Boggs Center Training Resources

Developmental Disabilities Lecture Series

New Jersey Training Network

Rutgers School of Social Work Certificate Program in Developmental Disabilities

National Links

College of Direct Support

Human Services Research Institute

National Alliance of Direct Support Professionals

Project Director: William Gaventa
Program Staff: Colleen McLaughlin, Shellyann Dacres