OADS Direct Care and Support Worker Portability & Advancement Training Initiative Listening Sessions

Direct Care and Support Worker Portability & Advancement Training Initiative
Listening Sessions
 
Please join us for a virtual listening session hosted by the Department on training needs for direct service workers. This initiative is one of many in a multi-phased effort focused on the development, growth, and retention of direct care workers. Your input will be helpful as the Department works to improve and streamline training for front-line workers providing essential services and supports.

These listening sessions are focused on services provided by Personal Support Specialists (PSSs), Direct Support Professionals (DSPs), and Mental Health Rehabilitation Technicians (MHRTs). These front-line workers provide a range of services to older adults, people with physical and intellectual disabilities, including autism, and individuals with serious mental illness.

We are hosting 3 separate sessions with different focus areas:

• Friday February 18, 2022, from 1-2:30 pm focused on gathering input from provider agencies and organizations employing PSSs, DSPs or MHRTs

• Wednesday February 23, 2022, from 10:00-11:30 am focused on gathering input from people receiving these services and family members
• Wednesday February 23, 2022, from 1-2:30 pm focused on gathering input from workers providing these services (PSS, DSP, and MHRT)

We are interested in hearing your suggestions and ideas about entry-level skills and training that are needed for these front-line workers. We are also interested in hearing your ideas about what specialty training topics are important for workers who serve people with complex needs or for workers interested in advancement.    

Whether or not you attend one of these sessions, we encourage you to provide input by completing the brief survey that we have included as part of this invitation.

To participate in the survey, please click here: Direct Care and Support Worker Portability and Advancement Training Initiative Survey

To attend one of these sessions, please register in advance by visiting: https://forms.office.com/g/vSxdcz94jy.

If you require accommodations to attend these sessions (for example sign language or other language interpreters), please contact Joseph Zamboni at joseph.zamboni@maine.gov.