The College of Direct Support
An NC Council on Developmental Disabilities-grant funded initative
PHASE I 2007-2010
NC Provider Council members have had an unparalleled opportunity to participate at a nominal cost in the College of Direct Support (CDS). This opportunity is made possible through a three-year federal grant awarded to the NC Providers Council by the NC Council on Developmental Disabilities in March 2007. The CDS is customized to specifically address the training needs of direct support staff in North Carolina with the goal of reducing turnover, increasing retention, and providing the foundation of a career ladder by offering nationalcredentials.
What is the College of Direct Support(CDS)?
CDS is an online, self-paced training program and learner management system designed for direct support professionals and entry-level managers. The curriculum effectively utilizes multimedia and interactive instructional activities and includes pre- and post-testing as well as a mentor-based competency component. The CDS provides agency participants with a database to manage and analyze participant data.
Approximately 150 hours of training are currently available with about 100 hours in development.
Those who participated in phase I through membership in the North Carolina Providers Council: Holy Angels, RHA Health Services, Carobell, LifeSpan, Rescare/Community Alternatives-NC, ComServ, RHA Howell, Tammy Lynn Center for Developmental Disabilities, Monarch and Footprints
Click on the link to see the results of Phase I : CDS Final Report
Phase II.
The next phase of the CDS-
Research and Expansion
October 2010-current, Monarch an Executive member of the NC Providers Council and participant in the NC pilot of the CDS has provided oversight for the NC CDS Phase II - Research and Expansion. The North Carolina Providers Council recommended that one of our participating grant participants, serve as the administration and coordination of a two-year national research study on organizational and individual outcomes. In the current phase of the grant those NC Providers Council members who have participated in phase one have been given the opportunity to continue to use the curriculum and Direct Support training. Please see how one of members celebrated the outcomes of the CDS in there organization.
INAUGURAL COLLEGE OF DIRECT SUPPORT GRADUATION
On Tuesday, March 8th, 2011, HolyAngels held the Inaugural College of Direct Support Graduation for 70 staff members at Queen of the Apostles Catholic Church in Belmont, NC. Regina Moody, Holy Angels President/CEO told the graduates, “Today we celebrate education . . . education through the courses of College of Direct Support designed to help each of us at Holy Angels provide the highest quality of care and services for our residents.”
Guest speaker at the graduation ceremony was Dr. Patrick Graham, President/CEO of the Urban League of Central Carolinas, Charlotte – who reminded the graduates and their guests, that it is important to be courageous, take risks and enable others to be the best they can be.
A dinner, in honor of the graduates, immediately followed the ceremony. Guest speaker for dinner was Mrs. Donna Gonyeau, Director of Marketing and Communications for the NC Provider's Council, who shared with the graduates the importance of improving their skills and increasing their knowledge through their achievement on completing the College of Direct Support curriculum.
Staff member, Doris Rabb, also spoke to the graduates during the dinner celebration. She stated, “I have worked in this field (at Holy Angels) for 15 years and felt I would know a lot of things in these lessons. But I quickly realized that it was tougher then I thought it would be in some areas. I learned how to deal with different situations that may arise in working with our residents . . . how to help them expand their abilities and be there to support them in their daily routines - and not always do things for them.“ She also challenged the graduates to encourage other staff member to enroll and complete the College of Direct Support.
For the past year, Holy Angels staff members have participated in the College of Direct Support staff development program – developed at the University of Minnesota specifically for individuals who work directly with people with intellectual developmental disabilities. The on-line courses took each person nearly 65 hours to complete. The program was offered as an optional educational opportunity for the Holy Angels staff members.
CDS is a web-based learning management system available 24 hours a day, seven days a week for learners to improve their skills in caring for people across disabilities.
The graduation class included not only direct support professionals, but also professional and clinical staff. Each graduate received a certificate of completion and a specially designed pin to wear on their ID badge.