The MN Direct Support Professional
Association
By Lance Hegland
We all have the same inborn
need for a sense of self-fulfillment, pride, accomplishment, and
well-being. Those of us experiencing the effects of aging or disability,
often referred to as “service participants,” desire to
lead self-directed lives, to contribute to our communities, and to
encourage attitudes and behaviors that promote inclusion in those
communities. Some of us just need a little assistance now and then
to reach these goals. We receive the support of personal care assistants
(PCAs), home health aides (HHAs), nursing assistants (NAs), homemakers,
and specialized transportation drivers. These front line supporters,
fairly recently termed “Direct Support Professionals” (DSPs),
strive for excellence. Until recently, DSPs have not had a strong
collective and unified voice regarding issues impacting their industry.
Experiencing high staff turnover; burnout; low social status; limited
educational, training and career opportunities; and poor wages and
benefits, the life of a DSP was void of organized opportunity for
change
Now, a relatively new national
organization has developed roots, and a local associated chapter,
here in Minnesota. The National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals
(NADSP) and the Direct Support Professional Association of Minnesota
(DSPAM) are making headway in forming a network of DSPs. They are
quick to point out that they are not a union and have no intentions
of forming one. Instead, they are an organization of professionals
charged with a mission to increase public image and knowledge for
their industry by striving for mutual understanding of the expected
Code of Ethics, training, and credentialing. Much like the doctors’ American
Medical Association, they are seeking a consensus among providers,
advocates, families, and legislators as to what the excepted norm
is to be, with hopes of growing into a respected professional association.
Besides Minnesota’s
own DSPAM group, the NADSP has approximately 24 affiliates in 16
other states such as Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri,
Montana, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, and Tennessee, just to name
a few. These national and state networks are a diverse coalition
of organizations and individuals —a gathering of representatives
from fields including mental health, developmental disabilities,
physical disabilities, child welfare, education, plus many others
in the human services community.
The core belief of the NADSP
and DSPAM is that service participants and direct support professionals
are partners in the move towards a self-determined life and in complimenting
and facilitating growth of natural supports. They recognize that
people needing support are more likely to fulfill their life dreams
if they have well-trained, experienced, and motivated people at their
side in long-term, stable, compatible support relationships. They
also point out that well-planned workforce development strategies
are needed to strengthen our workforce. That is just what they intend
to do: promote the development of a highly competent and professional
human services workforce which supports individuals in achieving
their life goals.
The national organization
and local chapters have developed national and statewide agendas
to address various industry issues. Many of these issues, some of
which have been chronicled for 25 years, concern conditions harmful
to service participants. Furthermore, these issues undermine the
commitment of direct service professionals to provide quality services,
and make it very difficult for those in the human services industry
to recruit and train qualified and committed individuals in direct
support roles.
Some particular initiatives
include enhancing the social status of Direct Support Professionals;
providing access to high quality educational experiences and lifelong
learning; strengthening relationships and partnerships between Direct
Support Professionals, self-advocates, and other consumer groups
and families; supporting the development of a credentialing program;
as well as promoting systems reform that will provide incentives
for educational experiences, increased compensation, and access to
career opportunities.
Since their inception, members
have created a Direct Support Professionals Code of Ethics; developed
Community Support Skill Standards for direct support professionals
and frontline supervisors; and compiled Apprenticeship Guidelines
for Direct Support Professionals, which has been incorporated by
the Department of Labor. In addition, they have published Frontline
Initiative, the official newsletter of NADSP, which contains articles
and stories of interest to people concerned with the quality of support
provided to individuals experiencing effects of disabilities or aging.
The newsletter is especially geared toward sharing ideas and successes
about what it takes to be a DSP in today’s community-focused
human service environment.
For more information about
direct service professionals, the National Alliance for Direct Support
Professionals, the Direct Support Professional Association of Minnesota,
their products and services, including membership opportunities for
professionals, supervisors, and others (self-advocates, families,
friends, or other professionals), please contact Mark Olson with
Arc Hennepin/Carver by calling 952-920-0855 or e-mailing olsonmark@archennepin.org
