Kansans Mobilizing for Direct Support Workforce Change
Quarterly Meeting

Independent Living Resource Center
3033 W. 2nd St.
Wichita, KS

May 17, 2007

In Attendance:
Deena Baker, Jill Dalrymple, Marsha Dill, Bonnie Duden, Julie Gusman, Dan Hermreck. Bobbie Keller, Monty King, Pattie Knauff, Craig Knutson, Kathy Olson, Tracy Price, Mark Newbold, Kelly Smith, Amy Swanson, Mary Jo Temple, Amanda Urban

Members using CDS shared Positive CDS Experiences

Long term staff are rejuvenated and refreshed by the training!

It brings a renewed excitement about their job.

We are piloting a DSP step program which incorporated CDS into the minimum requirements to meet step levels.

KETCH – Wichita, KS
DSP’s have expressed enthusiasm about the courses. At KETCH, we have DSPs start w/the Direct Support Profession course. Starting w/this course, DSPs have expressed agreement w/the material presented – as well as expressing the need for all DSPs (their co-workers_ to learn & embrace these practices in their jobs.

We are starting a brief course questionnaire for each DSP to complete after each course is completed with the goal of getting feedback on how they can apply any part of this to their job now (right away).

We have 25 DSPs who have started (CDS ) as of 5/17/07).

We have started with 4 courses required for new staff (DSPs) to be completed within their 1st year of employment (in addition to their orientation classes and other trainings). 7 staff have completed the 4 courses (as of 5/17/07)

Staff complete their courses on site & are paid for their time. Currently we do no pay an incentive, but we do a monthly drawing to win a prize of a DSP has completed any lessons that month, & we print their name in our newsletter.

Jill Dalrymple

I’ve heard nothing but positive comments from staff members that have completed modules. The modules are informative & interesting. The ability to complete the lessons on their own schedule is a definite plus.

Julie Gusman
Arrowhead West

Hint- We utilize the journal when staff members to through the modules. This prevents staff from “skipping” through the modules. We instruct them to answer any questions that are asked in each lesson in their journal. To access their journal, you have to use the staff members login ID#. We don’t read the entries persay, but look that they have made entries.

Julie Gusman
Arrowhead West

Hint- We utilize the journal when staff members to through the modules. This prevents staff from “skipping” through the modules. We instruct them to answer any questions that are asked in each lesson in their journal. To access their journal, you have to use the staff members login ID#. We don’t read the entries persay, but look that they have made entries.

Julie Gusman
Arrowhead West

Supervision (long term) seemed to be excited about the supervisor modules. I had one supervisor that appeared to be “burned out”. Once she started taking the modules, she seemed to get refreshed & enjoyed taking them.

Direct support staff who have completed the CDS become stronger self-advocates to not accept “slackers” as co-workers & report more readily to their supervisors when they see less than standard service delivery & interaction by clients.

Mark Newbold
CLASS LTD

7 direct support staff are enrolled. 2 staff have completed all modules and have given very positive feedback.

1 person had never used a computer before and after a few initial trainings, really got involved in the CDS & is now almost finished with all assigned courses.

Mary Jo Temple
CLASS LTD

We’ve been slow to start up again with CDS due to turnover, but some of the staff who had completed lessons under the original grant are still with us. They continue to be some of our best staff.

Dan Hermrack
TARC

Research Update-
Kathy Stiffler is collecting data and is hoping to have her results soon.

Websites- The websites have been updated. Please review and provide comments.

Use of College of Direct Support in Kansas –

As of May 15th over 80 agencies and 700 learners are enrolled. 4,300 lessons have been completed. Graphs showing use were presented.

There are few challenges related to lack of internet access for providers. Agencies who are not currently enrolled are working on policies for implementation or have other training in place.

Upcoming Conferences
InterHab

Workforce Development Issues in the Field of DD
Holiday Inn Express, Wichita
Recruit Train Retain
July 12 & 13, 2007

CDS Session July 12 from 3-4:30

Several members plan on attending the conference. It was suggested that representatives who have implemented CDS present strategies and outcomes. Kathy will coordinate. Dan, Marsha, Pattie and Jill, volunteered!

Presentation should include:

• Distribution of brochures
• Examples of College of Frontline Supervision
• Examples of coaching
• Discussion of implementation strategies
• Apprenticeship footage if we have it
• Distribution of Promotional Items

Workforce Innovations 2007
Kansas City Convention Center
July 17-19

Bonnie assures us that this is a very interesting National Conference addressing workforce issues across all fields. It is also the 70th Anniversary of apprenticeship. For more information go to: www.WorkforceInnovations.org .

Surveys and Project report

Funding for the College of Direct Support appears secure, but we should continue to demonstrate the value of the training.

A draft of the data generated by the Kansas Outcome Survey from the College of Direct Support website was shared.

• Who should take the Kansas Outcome Survey?
• Only DSPs should complete this survey as some questions do not apply to supervisors.
• Even DSPs who take few lessons should take the survey as many of the issues extend across courses.
• Kathy noted that there are some problems with the automatic graphing that is done by MC Strategies. It graphs multiple responses to a single item as if each is provided by a separate individual. This is inaccurate. Kathy has spoken with MC Strategies regarding this.
• The option for individual department (agency) surveys should be available by agency in late May.
• The Virginia report on the CDS website is very good. We will review our survey to see if it will generate the same data.

Personal Accounts

• Amy noted that personal accounts of benefits have been helpful in securing funding. We should continue to gather them.

A survey for supervisors is needed. It should address:

• If supervisors have staff who have taken CDS, identify what changes have occurred
• Changes supervisors have seen through their use of the College of Frontline Supervision.
• This survey should be distributed September 15th with a one month return date. Thus allowing us to complete the final report.
• Committee- Gary Amy, Bobbie, Kathy, and Mark will work on the survey. We will review it at our August KMFC meeting.

Amy will begin working on the contract with MC Strategies.

Marketing College of Direct Support-
Service Providers

• Send letter to CDDO informing them of providers enrolled in CDS. Thank them and encourage continued involvement.
• Send letter and brochure developed by the project to small service providers not enrolled. Brochure as written seems to be a good tool.

Self Advocates

• Work with Kelly, Craig, and Brad Linnenkamp to identify how self-advocates could use the College of Direct Support.
• Develop handouts that could be used in training by self advocates, if needed

Small Service Providers and Families

• Point out courses that might appeal to small service providers Positive Behavior Support Teaching Medication Administration, Supporting Health Lives

Conferences

• Annual InterHab Conference - October 20-21st
  • Present if possible.
  • Provide promotional items
• Case Manager Conference Topeka July 24th and 25th
  • Dan and Monty will present if the opportunity is available.
  • Kathy will provide brochures and promotional items.
• SACK Conference- October
  • Kelly and Craig will let us know when the call for presentations is out.
    We hope to present and provide promotional items.

Supporting Implementation

• Trainers are encouraged to assist persons in initial lessons.
• It is good to have a personal contact for persons not working regularly with a staff trainer. Questions ranging from forgetting the address or ID to needing to know how to print off a certificate may be issues.
• Persons completing lessons at home may need to be reminded to do a couple of simple things, For those individuals who do not use computers check to assure that everything works.
• Be sure the sound is on.
• Assure that the computer will handle the video downloads (Free software can be downloaded from the login page)
• Be sure that security is not blocking some pop-ups
• Learner resources on the website could be helpful.
• KETCH has a notebook with FAQ from learner. Jill will share hard copy that they have in the learner lab.
• A copy of the learner guide from the administrative website might be a helpful download on the website. Kathy will check to see if we can get permission to do this
• FAQ by learners could be helpful on the website.
• Administrators like updates through email.

Budget

The initial budget included funds to for KMFC representatives to travel to other organizations to promote the College of Direct Support. Several members have actively promoted CDS however they have not requested reimbursement. After discussion, the group decided to redirect these funds toward the purchase of items for distribution (e.g., pens, pencils) at conferences. A basket for the drawing at InterHab was also a possibility.

Apprenticeship

ISS is conducting the advanced apprenticeship level
Bobbie, Gary, Bonnie, Kathy, and Kathy met last month and continue to develop the Apprenticeship Manual

Building a Career Latter and Lattice is important in building a profession.

• Bonnie noted that many Community Colleges have lost Carl Perkins funding due to new regulations regarding salaries. Apprenticeship may help with this.
• Ladders and lattice will be regular agenda item

Bonnie, Bobbie, Gary, and Kathy will start identifying the issues.

• Kathy will check with other states that began apprenticeship (Ohio) to see how they are proceeding.
• Community colleges are important. Courses need to link training to a degree program or other career path.

Other issues

Recruitment and retention. Continues to be a problem across agencies.

• Very few applicants
• Current young people entering the workforce do not seem to have the same work ethic in relation to attendance, commitment, etc. It was noted that this is observation of workers is not unique to our field.
• Julie using a personality inventory to assist in screening applicants. Older workers may experience physical challenges when doing CPR courses
• Wages continue to be the primary challenge. Directs support professionals often work more than one job to make ends meet. Long-term employees often have some type of second income (may be from significant other) that allows them to survive.
• New businesses that pay higher wages continue to draw people away. Some return when they realize that the working conditions at the new site are less desirable.
• Bonnie noted that workforce centers are trying to address some issues. Apprenticeship is one way to address these issues. Lends support to initiatives to increase wages.
• Bonnie will keep us updated on efforts from the workforce center.

To strengthen ties to workforce centers,

• Bonnie will forward paragraphs regarding ways to effectively use and work with workforce centers to Kathy to send on to the network.
• Bonnie will check on whether workforce centers could purchase realistic job previews.

Thank you to

• Pattie Knauff for assistance in securing catering from Two Brothers
• Kathy Walter for securing meeting space

Next Meeting
Thursday August 16, 2007 10 am to 3 pm
Somewhere in Topeka. We are looking for a location.