Credentialing Direct
Support Professionals
First-Ever Program Will Build Skills & Status
by Tom King
MINNEAPOLIS,
MN. – The
National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP) has developed
and unveiled the first-ever national credentialing program for direct
support professionals (DSPs) who work in community human services
settings, caring and supporting people with disabilities.
“This is a national, voluntary credentialing program designed
to provide recognition for the contributions and competence of direct
care employees. The NADSP credential is a portable
credential that represents consistency in direct support education,
work-based learning and competence,” said Mark Olson, NADSP
president.
Olson
explained that NADSP has developed a national agenda to address
conditions chronicled for 25 years that are harmful to people who
rely on human services – chronic
and high staff turnover of support personnel, low social status,
insufficient training, limited educational and career opportunities,
and poor wages.
“These serious issues
undermine the commitment of the direct support professionals, and
have made it very difficult to recruit and train qualified and committed
individuals in direct support roles in every area of human services,” he
explained. “The
time has come when direct support professionals must be seen as the
talented, educated, caring individuals they are,” Olson added.
The new NADSP credential-ing program gives DSPs (including personal
care attendants) the opportunity to commit to the profession of direct
support through a three-tiered credential program. The three credentials
are DSP-Registered, DSP-Certified and DSP-Specialist. Each level
involves additional training and expertise and a commitment to the
profession.
Upon completion of the DSP-Registered level, a DSP will then be
eligible to complete expert training in the key competencies of empowerment,
communication, planning, ethical practices and advocacy to become
a DSP-Certified. The third level of the program recognizes those
DSPs who have gone through specialized training and have demonstrated
competence in providing specialized support to individuals with disabilities
in community human services.
A common component in the requirements for all levels is a knowledge
of and understanding of the NADSP Code of Ethics. DSPs, as part of
this process, must sign a commitment to adhere to the NADSP Code
of Ethics. The code can be found on the NADSP Web site.
In order to receive a DSP
certified or specialist credential, the DSP must complete an approved
training program. Currently, the NADSP has approved two existing
curricula that meet the education/training requirements of the NADSP
national credential:nity inclusion, 14) Individual rights and choice,
and 15) Personal and self care.
Employers and post-secondary programs that do not have an existing
DOL-approved apprenticeship program or do not use the CDS can apply
to the NADSP to have their programs reviewed and accredited so their
graduates can apply for the national credential.
Although the NADSP creden-tialing
program is new, the NADSP is an organization that has been around
for many years. It is a coalition of organizations and individuals
committed to strengthening the quality of human service support
by training and educating the direct support workforce. The group
has representatives from the fields of mental health, developmental
disabilities, child welfare, education and many others in the human
services community. Currently, there are 28 NADSP affiliates in
19 states across the U.S. NADSP state affiliates are direct support
advocacy groups or individuals interested in direct support issues
who provide NADSP with information on what’s
important to DSPs in their area.
The NADSP believes that
service participants and DSPs are partners in the move towards
a self-determined life, and in complimenting and facilitating growth
of natural supports. “We 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.
We also recognize that well-planned workforce development strategies,
such as NADSP’s national credentialing program, are needed
to strengthen our workforce,” Olson said. ![]()
For details and applications
for the new credentialing program, or to inquire about accreditation
of an existing program, visit the NADSP Web site, www.nadsp.org/credentialing,
or contact Mark Olson, 952-920-0855.
