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New Training Program Professionalizes DSP Role

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Despite being busy working professionals, several MOKA employees signed up for the Direct Support Professional (DSP) Training Program to gain new skills and help professionalize the role. 

“I feel like a lot of people don’t understand how important this job is,” says Amanda Jordan, Administrative Assistant and Residential Support Staff at East Main. “We’re taking care of people’s children, their brothers, their sisters, and they’re leaving it all in our hands.”

DSPs support people with physical, intellectual, or developmental disabilities in realizing their full potential. They assist people served in becoming integrated and engaged in their community. And they ensure safety and encourage independence in residential home settings and community supports groups.

These professionals also manage day-to-day care in residential homes. DSPs make meals and plan recreational activities. They learn proper lifting and transfer techniques, how to administer medication, and respond in crisis situations.

In an effort to professionalize the position, MOKA helped develop the Direct Support Professional Training Program in collaboration with Grand Rapids Community College, Harbor House Ministries, Heritage Homes, Inc., and Benjamin’s Hope.

MOKA received a Going Pro Talent Fund award from Michigan Works! to cover the cost for employees to attend. The award can be used to assist employers in training, developing, and retaining staff. The training must lead to a credential for a skill that is transferable and recognized by the industry.

“It’s very important that we’re educated in this role so that we can do our best job for persons served and for MOKA and continue to support MOKA’s mission,” Amanda says. “And I feel like this course does that for people and does that for people who MOKA wants to employ and to keep.”

“I was really excited to learn something new and something that, as a supervisor, I could bring to my staff and help them learn and grow as well,” says Desiree Whittaker, Home Supervisor of Harbor Pines in Norton Shores, who took the course along with Amanda.

DSPs have a lot of responsibility, but the starting pay is fairly low. High turnover and vacancy rates have always been a challenge. During COVID, the need for DSPs reached a crisis point.

“It is a professional position,” says Lynne Doyle, former Executive Director at Ottawa Community Mental Health. “It requires training, skill and expertise.”

Various disability advocates and residential home providers started meeting regularly to address the staffing shortage. The goal was to professionalize the sector and ultimately boost the hourly pay.

“It really was to get more people interested in the field and to make it a livable career,” says Lynne, who attended the brainstorming meetings.

Grand Rapids Community College, along with input from MOKA and the other providers, developed the curriculum. GRCC offered a lab for hands-on training at the Lakeshore Campus in Holland.

Disability advocates have worked on legislation at the state level to professionalize the DSP workforce similar to that of a certified nursing assistant. Currently, there is no occupational classification for DSPs.

“I think we all felt like part of the elevation of this profession is to have additional training from an outside source,” Lynne says. “No matter what college certificates are still important, not only to people hiring, but to the people who gained that certificate.”

Three MOKA employees completed the pilot training program, and another group participated in the class offered in the winter. The training program was organized like a college class and included weekly assignments, quizzes, and in-person lab time at the GRCC Lakeshore Campus. The homework and tests were all graded, and they celebrated with a graduation party.

“If you love what you do or want to continue to grow, I think that it’s a great opportunity and chance to expand your knowledge and learn even more,” says Lana Leek, Assistant Supervisor of Community Supports for Ottawa and Muskegon counties. “It made me feel a lot more comfortable and confident.”

Many of the people had never taken a college course before, so it also boosted their skills and confidence in the process. And those enrolled had a GRCC student ID and Blackboard access.

“You could tell that they were proud of going through it,” Lynne says. “It was an accomplishment for them. And I think that also has to be part of this. I think it’s the mindset of the people who are going into it as well, that this isn’t just an entry-level job. This is something you have to go to school for and you’re rewarded for it.”

They all enjoyed the camaraderie among the group and meeting people from MOKA and other organizations. Their instructors were flexible and knowledgeable. The course content covered a variety of topics and issues relevant to the role, both for new employees and experienced DSPs.

“I really loved the open dialogue that we had,” says Desiree. “I thought it was really cool to bounce things off of each other. I thought it was really an awesome learning experience.”

Lana Leek participated in the pilot program. The training was a good refresher on safety, emergencies, and proper care for people with higher medical needs. Some persons served have complex medical issues, while others have behavioral and intellectual disabilities such as autism or bipolar disorder.

“Even for people who have been working for years in this field, it’s a nice refresher,” Lana says. “It’s always nice to feel more confident and comfortable with what you’re doing and being able to help the people we serve.”

Course content included training on caring for people with feeding tubes and mobility issues, autism, behavioral and crisis intervention, CPR and suicide prevention, critical thinking and problem-solving, cultural competence, documentation skills, emergency preparedness, first aid, food safety, health and wellness, HIPAA, and person-centered planning.

“Everything that we learned was beneficial for the job that we do, because it is people’s children, their family members that we’re taking care of, like you’ve actually built relationships with these people,” Desiree says. “So, I feel like taking care of the staff helps the people we serve be better people because we know how to support them better.”

Story by Marla Miller. Photos by Lara Parent.