A new Direct Support Professional (DSP) training program at BOCES, coordinated with the New York Alliance for Inclusion and Innovation (NY Alliance), will solve a massive, double-digit shortage of workers in the industry with career paths for adults.

The $155,800 grant announced recently will help low-income individuals who are unemployed or “under-employed” receive training through BOCES to become direct support professionals (DSPs). DSPs help people with disabilities navigate everyday life tasks, such as work, volunteer, live in their own home and go to doctor’s appointments.

“This initiative will produce qualified individuals who are skilled and ready to meet the workforce needs of the disability sector as direct support professionals (DSPs),” said President and CEO of the NY Alliance Michael Seereiter. “We are excited about the program and the new career paths it will create for students at BOCES – and the precedent it will set to help take this effort statewide.” 

DSP training will become part of BOCES’ existing Certified Nurse Assistant, Home Health Aide, and Personal Care Aide (CNA/HHA/PCA)program, thus allowing program graduates to pursue four career paths

F.A.Q’s On OPWDD Workforce Stabilization Supplemental Payments

Several of you have asked questions about the specifics of OPWDD’s Workforce Stabilization Supplemental Payments following our Technical Webinar that was held last month. We’ve created a Frequently Asked Questions (F.A.Q) web page to answer many of those questions.

A link to our webinar and even more information about Strengthening and Supporting our Direct Support Workforce can be found here:  Supporting and Strengthening the Direct Support Workforce | Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (ny.gov)

We hope this information is helpful. Should you have questions about the Workforce Stabilization Attestation, contact COVIDAttestation@opwdd.ny.gov.  For questions relating to the COVID Service/Vaccination Incentive Survey, please get in touch with us at COVIDSurvey@opwdd.ny.gov

M.S., Educational Psychology, College of St. Rose

M.S., Social Work, University at Albany

B.S., Elementary Education, College of St. Rose

Renee is the lead faculty member for the Human Services A.S. and A.A.S. degree programs. Renee is the recipient of the SUNY Chancellors Award for Excellence in Teaching, the YWCA of Northeastern New York’s Women of Achievement Award, the John and Susan Roche National Award for her work in the area of Applied Learning and the Schenectady Human Rights Commission Group Award for her role as the co-advisor of the SUNY Schenectady Student Volunteer Organization. Renee is responsible for the coordination and oversight of the internship program. This program has 35 sites in the Capital Region. Renee is the SUNY Schenectady representative on the SUNY Applied Learning committee as well as the Chairperson of the SUNY Schenectady Applied Learning Task Force. She has presented workshops on Applied Learning to the faculty and created the SUNY Schenectady Service Learning Website. Renee is a member of the Executive Committee of Schenectady County Embraces Diversity and a board member of Fostering Futures New York. Renee provides her students with the opportunity to apply social work theory through their participation in service learning community projects. Through service learning, Renee’s students have impacted the local community by conducting after school activities for youth, collecting supplies for various community agencies, and advocating with elected officials to improve social welfare programs.

Direct Support Professional certificate 

The purpose of this certification to help individuals acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to enter the workforce as direct support professionals. Direct-care workers provide an estimated 70 to 80 percent of the paid hands-on long-term care and personal assistance received by Americans who are elderly or living with disabilities or other chronic conditions.

The certificate prepares graduates to:

Goal I: Demonstrate professional skills and abilities

Analyze the impact of social policies on individuals and systems

Apply major social work theories.;

Goal II: Demonstrate professional communication skills

Communicate effectively in oral and written form within professional environments.

Goal III: Identify and apply cultural competencies

Identify cultural barriers to societal integration;

Apply appropriate strategies in working with culturally diverse populations.

If any one is interested or would like more information, please contact Renee at

adamamrt@sunysccc.edu

Updated Visitation and OSHA Emergency Temporary

Standard Guidance Now Available

Today, in light of the significant and rapid rise in COVID-19 cases across New York, the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) will enhance visitation screenings and requirements at all OPWDD certified and operated programs. All visitors to any OPWDD program site will now be asked to submit to a pre-screening and be required to schedule visits in advance as there will be limitations to the number of visitors allowed at any given time. At this time, OPWDD will continue to monitor the situation and amend our guidance as needed. The updated OPWDD visitation guidance can be found at: https://opwdd.ny.gov/coronavirus-guidance/updated-visitation-guidance-residential-facilities

In addition, OPWDD has issued guidance related to the COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing; Emergency Temporary Standard issued by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). This document provides guidance on the applicability of the OSHA temporary standard to the OPWDD service system and is not intended to supplant the OSHA standard. The OPWDD guidance can be found at: https://opwdd.ny.gov/coronavirus-guidance/guidance-osha-vaccine-emergency-temporary-standard

All OPWDD guidance related to COVID-19 can be found on the OPWDD website.

Dear Friends and Colleagues:

For most of us, this time of year is one where we reflect on the year that is ending and look forward to the start of a new one. It is a time to reflect on what we have accomplished and been through, how we can do better, achieve more and improve our lives in the coming year and beyond. While it has only been two months that I’ve served as your acting Commissioner, I have had the privilege of meeting many of you as I have traveled around the state to see programs, visit homes, and most importantly, meet with the people we support and their family members, our DSPs in the field, and everyone involved in providing services to people with developmental disabilities. In 2022, I plan to do even more of that.  

As all of you know, throughout this past year we have continued to be challenged by the ongoing pandemic, which gripped our state and nation for the second year in a row. COVID-19 has caused a significant workforce shortage affecting both our service providers and our state-operated homes and programs. Sadly, many of the people we support and their families have suffered as a result. It is impossible to discuss the future of OPWDD and its supports without addressing the workforce crisis that we face in our service system. It is part of the larger crisis being felt among human service sectors across the country and it will be OPWDD’s primary focus for the year ahead.

We have a great opportunity to turn things around as we enter the new year. A majority of OPWDD’s share of the American Rescue Plan (ARPA) funding from the federal government has been earmarked to help stabilize the not-for-profit direct support workforce. Incentives and bonuses are expected to be paid in the early part of 2022. And OPWDD will continue to advocate for a more permanent wage increase for this essential workforce within the New York State Budget.

And although our state workforce will not benefit from the ARPA investments, we have secured enhanced overtime funding for our state workforce and raised the starting rate of pay for new hires. We will continue to work with the state’s unions to provide additional support for our dedicated state operated direct support workers who have persevered throughout the pandemic, often working double and triple shifts to ensure the safety of the people we support.

I have said it before and I will say it again, our DSPs – both state operated and not-for-profit staff – are the heroes of the last two years. We are so grateful for all they have done and continue to do to support people with developmental disabilities.

OPWDD is looking at several initiatives to recruit and retain direct support professionals. New partnerships with BOCES, SUNY and CUNY will help us plant the seeds for a larger and more robust workforce in the future. These partnerships will help us recruit and train direct support staff on campuses across the state. The infusion of new DSPs will provide needed relief to our existing dedicated but exhausted workforce. Direct care work is a labor of love and those of us who work in this field know the many rewards that come with it. OPWDD will work in partnership with our stakeholder community to launch a media campaign to help recruit people into this field as a career. At a time when job seekers have many options, we want to show them why they should choose to work in our field. Additionally, we are also working towards professionalizing the workforce through credentialing.

As we endeavor to stabilize our system of supports, OPWDD will also focus on innovations in housing and employ technology and a fresh perspective to help modernize our approach to helping people achieve greater independence within their community. We will be looking to streamline our self-direction program and make it easier to access for more people. We will also be looking at our day program supports and how we can better incorporate employment, vocational and educational opportunities into what we do. We will be working to enhance our crisis support systems and looking to improve the ways we support children and adults with complex needs.

As we continue to drive toward true person-centered supports for the people we serve, we want no door to be closed and no goal to feel unattainable for those we support.

I am encouraged and energized by the commitment of Governor Hochul to ensure that people with developmental disabilities and their families are safe and have a voice and a seat at the table in New York State. Additionally, in my two months with OPWDD I have been struck by the dedication and commitment of the team here at the agency and that of our larger stakeholder community. While we have a lot of work ahead of us, and it will take time to make the needed progress, it is heartening to know that we are all working toward the same goals. 

Thank you to everyone for welcoming me as your new Acting Commissioner these past two months. The warm welcomes I received and the dedicated people I have met only reinforce my commitment to this agency and to the people and families we serve and support.  

In 2022, we encourage everyone to get the COVID-19 vaccine if you haven’t already done so and to get the booster if you are eligible. It will take all of us working together to end this pandemic.

Best wishes to you and yours for a happy and healthy 2022! I very much look forward to our continued partnership as we move the system forward, together, in the new year and beyond.

Sincerely,

Kerri Neifeld

Acting Commissioner

Budget would increase special education providers’ annual funding by $240 million

Albany

Gov. Kathy Hochul on Thursday announced plans for a $240 million increase in funding for schools serving children with disabilities in her upcoming 2022-2023 executive budget.

Hochul also signed a package of legislation to increase resources and support for students with disabilities, their families and social services providers.

“This historic investment in schools serving students with disabilities, along with four bills I am signing into law, will make a huge difference in the lives of students, families and schools in every corner of New York,” Hochul said. “Throughout my time in office, I’ve made it a priority to listen to the disability community and provide the resources and support they need to thrive. People with disabilities have my commitment: as your governor, I’ll always stand by your side and fight for you.”

Following the 4 percent cost-of-living adjustment approved for the 2021-2022 school year tuition rates, the state Division of the Budget will authorize an additional cost-of-living adjustment of 11 percent for the 2022-2023 school year — a total increase of more than 15 percent over two years.

The adjustment would increase preschool and school-age special education providers’ annual funding by more than $240 million, with the state ultimately reimbursing school districts and counties for roughly 60 percent of the cost.

Bills signed Thursday to support students with disabilities include one that establishes that the Autism Spectrum Disorders Advisory Board. Hochul also signed legislation that ensures the timely appointment of an impartial hearing officer to address due process complaints for students with disabilities, a bill that makes standards for issuing behavior analyst licenses in New York consistent with other states and legislation that provides funding to early intervention education for toddlers with disabilities.

The Autism Spectrum Disorders Advisory Board will deliver a report on autism detection, education, and mapping. This report will evaluate and review factors on the causes of autism in children as well as assist health care providers and educators with ways to better help those diagnosed with autism, state officials said.

 Rachel.Silberstein@- timesunion.com A 518-454-5449 A @RachelSilby