Brief History

At People Incorporated our objective is to offer quality services to individuals with developmental disabilities by recruiting, training, employing and retaining talented direct support professionals (DSP). To support this workforce challenge, we started the Human Services Academy in September 2005.After engaging two local high schools and nine students during the 2006 school year, we realized this idea had the potential to be an on-going resource for new and trained direct support professionals. After sharing the Academy concept with the DMR Southeast Regional office staff, they supported the idea of sharing this resource with other agencies and schools in this service delivery area. During the 2007 school year, over 30 students were involved in People Inc.’s Human Services Academy and agencies/schools in Taunton, Attleboro, Plymouth, Cape Cod and Attleboro were involved in creating the Academy concept.

Through the efforts of the Human Services Academy and Diman Regional Vocational Technical High School, the Massachusetts Department of Education modified the Vocational Technical Education Framework in the Health Services Cluster. The trainings for a Direct Support Professional were added as an additional specialty career track to the Health Assistant Framework. This accomplishment allows Health Career shops at vocational-technical high schools and CNA programs at comprehensive high schools to offer trainings for this career option.

Mission
( click here to see our video )
The Human Services Academy goal is to recruit and train high school students for a rewarding career working with individuals that have developmental disabilities.

Ten Human Services Academy students from Diman Regional Vocational Technical High School Health Careers shop are recognized from earning an online credential for Direct Support Professionals from the Mass Council of Human Service Providers, Inc.

Eligibility
Students should be a high school senior, possess a good academic record and be willing to complete the program requirements. (click for program application)

Requirements
Selected students in the Academy will:
1. Enroll in related classes (if available) at their school in Psychology, Sociology, First Aid/CPR and/or be enrolled in a related vocational program in Health Careers, CNA or Child Care.
2. Attend trainings offered by People Inc. trainers in Medication Administration, Human Rights, CPR, Non-Violent Management of Aggressive Behavior, Introduction to Developmental Disabilities, etc.
3. Participate in a work experience component (job shadowing, mentoring, internship hours) at a People Inc. facility.
4. Complete the online Direct Support Professional Credential Program offered by the Massachusetts Council of Human Service Providers, Inc.

Graduation
Academy students that complete the following we be prepared for an employment opportunity at People Inc.:
1. Successfully complete the Academy requirements.
2. Earned a high school diploma.
3. Possess a valid driver’s license and pass a CORI background check.
4. Attend People Inc.’s day long orientation program for new employees.


Rick O’Meara from the Mass Dept of Retardation congratulates People Inc Academy graduate Julianna Goncalves
for earning a certificate from the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals

Continuing Education
Academy graduates working at People Inc. will be encouraged to enroll in Bristol Community College’s Human Services Certificate Credit Program. The cost (tuition and books) of attending this program will be paid for by educational benefits available at People Inc.. Also, Academy graduates will also be encouraged to pursue the various Direct Support Professional (DSP) certifications through the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (see link in resources).

Robert Canuel People Inc. CEO/President, Jack Sbrega Bristol Community College President and Rogerio Ramos Diman Regional Superintendent meet to sign the articulation agreement that will earn Diman Regional Health Career/Human Services Academy students three credits towards the Human Services Certificate Program at
Bristol Community College.

Contacts
High school students that reside in the greater Fall River area that are interested in the Academy, should contact Dorothy Arruda at 508-679-5233, ext 28. or email darruda@peopleinc-fr.org

Agencies or schools that are interested in implementing the Academy concept, should contact Edward Hill at 508-679-5233, ext 36 or email ehill@peopleinc-fr.org

Resources

www.mass.gov/dmr/
Massachusetts Department of Retardation

http://rtc.umn.edu/dsp/
The Research and Training Center on Community Living, University of Minnesota.

www.nadsp.org
The National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals offers certifications.

http://www.bristol.mass.edu/catalog/certificate/cp_human_services.cfm
Bristol Community College’s Human Services Certificate Program

http://www.providers.org/educationtraining/eacademy/credentialing.html
Massachusetts Council of Human Service Providers, Inc. credentialing program

www.trninc.com
Publisher of resource materials (click on staff training option)

http://www.aamr.org/
The American Association for Mental Retardation (new name is American Association for Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities –AAIDD) offers information and publications

http://info.collegeofdirectsupport.com/
College of Direct Support that offers online courses

http://www.directcarealliance.org/
Direct Care Alliance, Inc. promotes the importance of the direct care worker

http://www.phinational.org/clearinghouse
National Clearinghouse on the Direct Care Workforce is a resource for information

http://www.hsri.org
Human Services Research Institute, Cambridge, Mass. 617-876-0426
They designed/sell the document:
Community Support Skill Standards: Tools for Managing Change and Achieving Outcomes
(Skill Standards for Direct Service Workers in Human Services)

www.srvip.org
The implementation project for Social Role Valorization.

Brochure for Jack Yates, a People Inc trainer that offers unique training opportunities for employees or Academy students.
http://www.humanservicesacademy.org/jy.pdf

The National Direct Service Workforce Resource Center was created to improve recruitment/retention of direct support professionals.
www.dswresourcecenter.org