In New Hampshire, almost 10,000 people with developmental disabilities and acquired brain disorders are served by nearly 2,000 direct support staff.  Add to this the even-greater number of elderly and mentally ill who are served by caregivers, and it becomes clear that the magnitude of this work force is staggering. 

Dedicated as they might be, DSPs do not always receive the training they need to improve their skills.  Moore Center has discovered an innovative solution to many of the issues mentioned above. 

The College of Direct Support (CDS) is an interactive, internet-based curriculum that addresses the everyday issues faced by direct support staff.  Developed by the University of Minnesota, the foremost educational and research institution for issues around developmental disabilities in the country, the College of Direct Support is a relevant and progressive training tool.  The program is extremely cost effective.  For an enrollment fee of $300, a direct support staff can receive the benefit of the CDS core curriculum:

  • The core curriculum consists of eleven primary courses which are made up of 68 lessons.  In addition, there are courses on topics including Cultural Competency, Person-Centered Planning, Employment Supports, Personal Care, Medication Support and Functional Assessment.
  • An additional curriculum, Frontline Supervision and Management is offered.  It consists of four courses; Recruitment and Selection, Training and Orientation, Fueling High Performance and Developing an Intervention Plan.  
  • Each lesson offers both pre and post-testing.
  • Hundreds of essay-type questions are available and may be optionally assigned to learners.
  • Nationally recognized, best-practice skill sets are listed for each lesson and can be used in the mentoring of staff and the measuring of staff effectiveness.
  • New courses are continually added and old courses will be reviewed and refreshed on an ongoing basis.

 

We foresee the dawning of a new, exciting, and demonstrably productive, statewide, educational matrix that will empower our all-important frontline personnel and, ultimately, provide higher quality services to the folks we support.

 
 

For more information on The College of Direct Support contact:

Scott Trudo
Moore Center Services
195 McGregor St., Unit 400
Manchester, NH 03102
603-206-2818

scott.trudo@moorecenter.org

Thank you for your interest in the College of Direct Support, the premiere training curriculum for Direct Support Professionals!