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Direct Support Professionals Association of Tennessee
News You Can Use!
Celebrate Direct Support Professional (DSP) Recognition Week!
Every day, Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) make a difference in the lives of millions of Americans with disabilities. This week, make it a point to say a special “thank you” to the many DSPs that support our Tennesseans with disabilities.
Please take a few brief moments to complete a survey to help us better understand what you expect from the NADSP and how much you know about what we do. All information that you provide is strictly confidential and we do not ask for any identifying personal information. Take the survey.The National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP) and the Research and Training Center (RTC) at the University of Minnesota's Institute on Community Integration are seeking nominations for the 2013 Moving Mountains Award. The purpose of this award is to recognize organizations using best practice in direct support staff workforce development that result in improved outcomes for the people being supported. Organizations applying will be able to illustrate how their direct support workforce practices and philosophy aligns with the goals of the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals.
These nominations are a component of a national research project in which the RTC will conduct in-depth case studies to richly describe the characteristics, objectives, and outcomes of best practice initiatives designed to improve competence, status, compensation, and stability of direct support staff. Descriptions of the case studies will be disseminated and shared with provider agencies, policy makers, and interested stakeholder groups in a number of ways, including: on the RTC and NADSP Web sites, as practical illustrations in RTC/NADSP publications and presentations, and in a final publication on best practice.
Nominated programs/initiatives can be small (a single program) or large (statewide) in scope and can involve few or many direct support professionals. Organizations that have applied previously but were not selected are invited and encouraged to re-submit a nomination for this year's competition. The RTC and the NADSP are looking for unique and creative initiatives that contribute to improving workforce outcomes for direct support professionals and their employers. We welcome applications from statewide/regional initiatives, local organizations, and individual people. Up to two awards will be given each year. This year's award winners will be honored at an upcoming national conference.
Visit the website to learn more about the Moving Mountains Award and to read profiles of previous winners
Join the NADSP and your State Chapter (DSPAT)
- Promote the direct support profession by helping your DSPs join their professional membership organization (NADSP) and their State Chapter, DSPAT, with a $10.00, one year membership!
- Join on-line or download and print a membership form. Download our brochure HERE.
- To register a large group of your direct support professionals, use NADSP’s group enrollment spreadsheet.
At long last! The statewide DSP survey is available for download HERE. Thanks to the providers who participated in the survey process and to the hundreds of DSPs across Tennessee who took the time to share their thoughts on their experience as a DSP. The information gathered in this survey will be used to help shape the future of the DSP profession in Tennessee.
Is DSPAT a Union?
The Direct Support Professionals Association of Tennessee’s (DSPAT) is NOT a union. It is a professional organization, supported by industry members. DSPAT’s position on labor union organization, as well as the position of the National Alliance of Direct Support Professionals (NADSP) is one of neutrality. DSPAT neither recommends nor discourages DSPs from joining a union.
The purpose and activity of DSPAT is to improve the quality of human services and supports through an ethical, credentialed and respected DSP workforce. DSPAT is a professional association by and for DSPs promoting service excellence through a comprehensive code of ethics, movement towards a portable, national credential for quality DSP workforce, and a unified voice of advocacy on issues of importance to the field. Although organized labor may share one or another aspect of our national agenda (e.g. staff opportunity or compensation), DSPAT is neither represented by a union nor engaged in union-like activities.
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