Apprenticeship Levels

Ad Astra Guidelines

Ad Astra Resources

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The Ad Astra Direct Support Registered Apprenticeship Program

The Ad Astra Direct Support Registered Apprenticeship Program is a multi-level staff development program for people providing direct support to individuals with intellectual or other disability. It is a voluntary employee-trainee development program with the mission of improving quality of life for people with support needs and direct support professionals by creating career paths linked to mastery of knowledge, skill, and ethical practice.
This credential has the potential to enhance the human service field’s image to one that is more attractive to both current and potential DSPs.

Ad Astra makes direct support professionalism a career option for people who are seeking meaningful and long-term employment. This registered apprenticeship program promotes a fundamental shift from direct support as “just another job” to a conscious career choice. Apprenticeship at graduated levels of skill and knowledge can easily be translated to skill-based career advancement. It provides a career path within direct support that emphasizes the improvement of skills and rewards the DSP’s increased competency with recognition and appropriate compensation.

The Ad Astra Apprenticeship Program provides coherent, step-by-step, multi-level staff training. It is a staff development plan built on nationally recognized Community Support Skills Standards. These standards define the skills a Direct Support Professional (DSP) needs to know to provide high quality support for people with developmental disabilities.

Ad Astra provides employers with a coaching protocol involving both mentors/journeyworkers (highly skilled current employees) and Ad Astra apprentices (candidates). The Kansas Apprenticeship Council has registered this voluntary credentialing program leading to journeyworker status. The structure of a registered apprenticeship program is used to provide a validated content base that will be useful in guiding program development across a wide range of conditions and locations. Related Instruction assures that critical competencies are incorporated in the locally administered program. Some autonomy exists in developing and selecting curriculum. Registered apprenticeship encourages local creativity in the design of learning materials while assuring continuity in expectations and learner outcomes across Kansas.

Ad Astra has been identified as an approved training and educational program for the Direct Support Professional credentialing offered through the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals. For more information go to: http://www.nadsp.org/credentialing/index.asp.

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Resources

Ad Astra Brochure (Download PDF)

Pattern Apprenticeship and Educational Standards (Word document will download on your desktop) for Ad Astra Direct Support Apprenticeship State Council on behalf of Organizations and Individuals Employing Direct Support Professionals and Providing Direct Support in Human Services (NOTE: This is a document that will download to your desk top.)

Administrative Program Guide (coming soon)

Apprenticeship Program Levels

There are four apprenticeship program levels.

Orientation Level is the entry point to the Apprenticeship Program. Upon completion of 320 hours of employment/internship, successful completion of the employer’s specified orientation period and 40 hours of designated Related Instruction, the apprentice/candidate may submit an application to enter the Initial Proficiency Level.

Initial Proficiency Level requirements include completion of an additional 1000 hours (cumulative total of 1320) of supervised work experience and 60 hours (cumulative total of 100 hours) of Related Instruction.

Advanced Proficiency Level builds on earlier experiences. Apprentices who successfully complete the Advanced Level will have met an additional 1680 hours of supervised work experience thereby completing the required 3000 hour requirement. An additional 116 hours of Related Instruction will meet the 216 total hour requirement. Apprentices will be eligible for journeyworker status recognized by the Kansas Apprenticeship Council.

Specialization Certificate Level opportunities are in development.

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Resources for Implementing the Ad Astra Apprenticeship Program

• Pattern Apprenticeship and Educational Standards for Ad Astra Direct Support Apprenticeship
• Administrative Program Guide (coming soon)

Ad Astra Guidelines

• Provide development opportunities for apprentices/candidates who voluntarily seek to advance their careers in human services
• Operate within a clear set of procedures determined by stakeholders
• Offer statewide consistency in competency areas and criteria for success
• Use a core foundation of validated skills, knowledge and ethical requirements that are relevant to direct support practice across the state
• Support the integration of agency specific skills, knowledge and ethical requirements as needed
• Use meaningful, fair and reliable assessment processes aligned with program content
• Extend availability to the wide range of DSPs in Kansas and seek endorsements and involvement throughout the state
• Provide multiple, appropriate levels of challenges that encourage DSP participation
• Link DSP recognition, wage, and status to skill development
• Assure that program participants relate their learning to the people they are supporting in their work environments (e.g., on-the-job assessments, portfolio assessments, or mentoring)

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Active Ad Astra Sites

Ad Astra includes providers who have registered apprenticeship programs and other training programs pursuing certification without formal affiliation with the Workforce Centers.

Ad Astra registered sites;
Individual Support Systems, Topeka, Kansas

Ad Astra certification only:
Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas, Hays, Kansas

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For more Information

For information about Ad Astra contact:
Kathy Olson
Kansas University Center on Developmental Disabilities
2601 Gabriel
Parsons, KS 67357
620.421.6550 extension 1771

For information about apprenticeship in Kansas contact:
Kansas Apprenticeship Council
Bonnie Duden, Program Consultant
Kansas Department of Commerce
150 N. Main, Suite 100
Wichita, KS 67202
316-266-8600

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