Maines College of Direct Support: Building the Foundation

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Maines College of Direct Support Building the
Foundation
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Maines College of Direct Support Building the
Foundation

• Where we are now
• Why make a change?
• What does CDS offer?

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Direct Support Professional Curriculum

• The DSP has been an important component of our
  system
• Prior to 2002 there was no consistent statewide
  training curriculum
• The curriculum was developed in collaboration
  with providers, SUFU, and other stakeholders
• Over 10,000 DSPs have completed the curriculum
• Instructors have contributed to revisions and
  improvements in the curriculum as well as
  enriching it with additional exercises and
  materials

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Why change?

• To be effective, the curriculum needs to be
  updated, revised, and expanded
• Some modules have not been revised since
  originally introduced 7 years ago
• There has been long-standing awareness of the
  need for additional material, e.g., aging, MH/DD,
  work support, autism
• Developmental Services has had to reduce BHSI
  budget each year, less QA and support to
  instructors

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What is CDS?

• Computer-based
• Values-based (inclusion, citizenship, safety,
  self-determination, sustained personal
  relationships, productive and independent lives,
  etc.)
• 23 courses including 97 lessons
• Interactive - requires learner participation
• Includes text, audio narration, photos, videos
• Multiple-choice tests for each lesson
• College of Frontline Supervision and Management

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College of Direct Support

• CDS offers several advantages
• Track record introduced in 2003
• National recognition (currently in 36 states,
  Australia, UK, etc)
• Multicultural content
• Continual improvement through UMN Center for
  Excellence with national boards of advisors and
  editors

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College of Direct Support

• Not limited to scheduled class times accessible
  at any time from almost anywhere
• Not limited to DSPs accessible to families,
  volunteers, board, consumers
• Planned expansion to other populations (MH,
  children, SA, elders), facilitating unduplicated
  training

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College of Direct Support

• All learners experience the same content
• Learners go at their own pace, can repeat section
  as often as necessary
• Learning management system tracks completion and
  provides reports for individuals, organizations,
  and State
• Includes the College of Front Line Supervision
  and Management
• Ability to add Maine-specific and agency-specific
  material

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How is the CDS System Managed?

• 3 levels National, State and Local
• National
• Create and update content with UMN
• Manage technical systems
• Train and support state and local administrators

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CDS System Management, cont.

• State
• Work with stakeholders
• Determine Maine requirements
• Add Maine-specific content
• Manage implementation in Maine
• Communicate with CDS
• Monitoring and Quality Assurance

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CDS System Management, cont.

• Local Administrators
• Manage access to CDS (assign passwords, lessons,
  etc.)
• Orient new users to the CDS system
• Minor tech support to users
• Monitor student records
• Generate reports individual and aggregate
• Add agency-specific content
• Administer surveys

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Transition work plan

• Prepare for pilot to start January 2010, full
  statewide implementation July 2010
• Two main workgroups
• Administration
• Curriculum
• Update information on OACPDS web site

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Transition work plan, cont.

• Administration/policy group deals with
• Communication to stakeholders
• HR and labor management issues
• Consistent implementation across all providers
  statewide
• Technology
• Strategies for Administrator functions

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Transition work plan, cont.

• Curriculum group deals with
• Determine which lessons will be required minimum
  in Maine (totals CDS exceeds 45 hours)
• Identify Maine-specific content
• Design system for live training component
• Role of instructor/mentor/supervisor

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Work to date

• Small committee worked to evaluate the program
  and make a recommendation to DHHS.
• Representatives from the CDS visited Maine and
  presented the program to people with
  disabilities, family members, DDC, DRC,
  Providers, etc.
• DHHS decision to change fully to the CDS by July,
  2010 ( See Waiver Letter 9)
• Administration and Curriculum committees formed

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Whats Next?

• Committee Work
• October Training by CDS north and south
• January implementation of trial group
• Full implementation in July 2010.

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Questions?
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See for yourself.

• www.collegeofdirectsupport.com
• Click on Explore our Demo
• Click on Go to the Demo site to request password
  to access sample lessons
• http//www.maine.gov/dhhs/OACPDS/DS/
• Click on College of Direct Support