Update from Carol Britton on the CDS:

Hello All:

An update on the College of Direct Support...

I received administrator training for the site this morning and am in the process of setting up the site, putting together a users manual, and creating the log in information for all of the mentors that attended our mentor trainings. Once complete I will send this information to you (grouped by agency) to be distributed to the mentors.
If you would like access to the College as well, please send me the following to create your log in:
First Name:
Last Name:
Last four digits of your social security number:

Please reply via e-mail by Friday 12/7/07.
You can expect to recieve the log in and user's information by 12/12/07.
Please feel free to write or call should you have any questions.
Thank you!
Carol

Carol M. Britton, MSWTraining & Consultation SpecialistThe Elizabeth M. Boggs Center on Developmental DisabilitiesUMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical SchoolDepartment of PediatricsPhone: 732-235-9321Fax: 732-235-9330Web: http://rwjms.umdnj.edu/boggscenter email: carol.britton@umdnj.edu

Take advantage of the NJ Community College Consortium's Basic Skills/Literacy Training Program-Free for Agencies!

Yesterday, the DSP Workforce Development Leadership Council met with Bob Bowman, Executive Director of the New Jersey Community College Consortium for Workforce & Economic Development. Mr. Bowman gave the Council a brief overview of the available trainings included in the Basic Skills Workforce Training Program, such as basic math, reading, ESL, and computers, and urged agencies to take advantage of these trainings while they are still available.

ABCD would like to encourage all interested agencies to contact the Training Program and/or log on to the link below and sign up staff members for trainings:

*The Training Program is free- all employees attending must be "on the clock," or receiving their regular hourly wage while they are at training.
*Training topics include ESL, computer applications (Windows, MS Office), verbal and written communications, and mathematics and measurements.
*Trainings are held at various community college sites, with over 63 sites available statewide for easy accessibility.
*Trainings can also be customized for your agency’s daily operations and brought to your agency’s site. (Please note that there must be a minimum of 10 people participating at all times. *If the number of participants falls below 10, agencies are required to pay a proportion of the training fee for the missing participant.)
*Signing staff up is easy: call (609) 393-9009, or log onto http://www.njbia.org/resources/worktrain.asp for more information and directions to signing up online.
*Agencies are not required to provide a minimum number of employees.
*Agencies do not have to disclose financial information.
*Agencies are not required to fill out any paperwork.

Classes are filled on a first-come, first-serve basis and they are filling up quickly! The Training Program’s grant will end in June of 2008, however we are told that classes will definitely run out before this time, so don’t wait! We ask that you please contact us if/when you sign up staff for trainings, or if you have any questions.

Thanks and good luck to all!

Register for the Upcoming November Mentor Training!

For all agencies that still need to register DSP mentors for training, please see the following training announcement below:

The November 5 & 6 Career Path Mentor Training is now up on the web.
If you still have mentors or other staff that need to register they can do so
by going to http://rwjms.umdnj.edu/boggscenter/training/Career%20Path.htm

There are still spaces available for the Oct. 8 & 9 training as well.

Thanks!

Reminder about Mentor Training From Colleen McLaughlin:

Just a reminder that two day training for the Career Path Pilot Mentors will be held on
October 4 & 5 (almost full) and October 8 & 9. If you have not registered your mentors, supervisors, and/or trainers yet please do so. The registration website is http://rwjms.umdnj.edu/boggscenter/training/Career%20Path.htm

Thanks!

Mentor Training-Register Now!

Upcoming 2-Day Training

Career Path for Direct Support Professionals - NJCDD Grant Partners
"Becoming and Effective Mentor"

For: Mentors, Supervisors (working with the Career Path population), and Agency Trainers

Location: The Elizabeth M. Boggs Center on Developmental Disabilities
335 George Street - Liberty Plaza 3rd Floor, Training Room B
New Brunswick, NJ

Date Options: October 4 & 5 or October 8 & 9
Time: 10:00am - 3:30pm

-- Breakfast Refreshments will be served. Lunch is on your own. --
To register go to: http://rwjms.umdnj.edu/boggscenter/training/Career%20Path.htm

National Validation Study of Competencies for Frontline Supervisors and Direct Support Professionals Recently Published:

The Research and Training Center on Community Living recently published a study entitled "National Validation Study of Competencies for Frontline Supervisors and Direct Support Professionals," written by S. Larson, R. Doljanac, D. Nord., P. Salmi, A. Hewitt, and S. O'Nell.

The report examines organizational workforce outcomes; characteristics of and differences between managers, Frontline Supervisors
(FLS) and Direct Support Professionals (DSPs); and workplace competencies, training needs, and timing of training for FLS and DSPs. Using survey methodologies, the study validated nationally the results of two comprehensive Minnesota analyses of competencies needed by DSPs and FLS, extending the existing analyses by sampling DSPs, FLSs, and managers in 77 agencies in five states.

The report is free and only available online at: http://rtc.umn.edu/publications/#report

Call for Mentors

Colleen McLaughlin of the Boggs Center sent out the following reminder to all agencies on August 14, 2007:

This is just a reminder to all Career Path Partner agencies that you should be recruiting mentors for the pilot. We will be discussing your ideas as to how you are doing this at our meeting on Sept. 10th.

As discussed at the informational sessions it is our goal that the mentors are experienced DSPs. The mentor should not be someone who directly supervises their mentee, as we don't want to add another line of supervision.

Some qualities to look for in finding great mentors (according to the National Associationof Direct Support Professionals) include:
*A DSP with one or more years experience in the field of DD
*A DSP with "above average" performace rating in thier personnel record
*A DSP who is willing to meet with the DSP on a weekly/bi-weekly basis.
*A DSP with the desire to be a facilitator rather than someone who expects that "things be done only one way."
*A DSP who will make the mentee feel comfortable, recognize anxieties, and support their effort.
*A DSP who will use the process for learning and a tool for guidance and accountablity.

If you have any questions or ideas please feel free to contact me.

Colleen McLaughlin, M.Ed.Training and Consultation Specialist
The Elizabeth M. Boggs Center on Developmental Disabilities - UCEDDUMDNJ - Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
P.O. Box 2688335 George St., Suite 3500
New Brunswick, NJ 08903-2688
Phone: 732.235.9313
FAX: 732.235.9330
Web Page: http://rwjms.umdnj.edu/boggscenter
Email: colleen.mclaughlin@umdnj.edu

Congratulations to the NJ DSP Workforce Development Coalition on Receiving the Career Path Pilot Program Grant!

ABCD congratulates the NJ Direct Support Professional (DSP) Work Force Development Coalition on being awarded the Career Path Pilot Program grant through the NJ Council on Developmental Disabilities. Several of ABCD's member agencies are participating in the grant and the College of Direct Support! ABCD is very excited to be working on issues of professional development for DSPs on behalf of its member agencies that are participating in the College of Direct Support through the DD Council grant or independently. We welcome your feedback on this blog and on the participant e-mail list serv that we sent out last week, as we will be involved with the Boggs Center and participating agencies on tracking the progress of the Program. Check back for updates on the Program, and good luck to all participants from ABCD!