| |
Moving Mountains Best Practices
2005-2006 Award Winner
Community Supports for People with Disabilities Program
South Central College, North Mankato, Minnesota
The Community Supports for People with Disabilities Program (CSP) is an
accredited post-secondary academic program. This program is offered in
a face-to-face format or as an online option through South Central College
in North Mankato, Minnesota. Students from the six other Minnesota
State College and Universities system can complete the CSP courses
online while completing other required courses for the certificate,
diploma, or Associate of Science degree at their home college.
The CSP teaches students to perform the duties of a Direct Support
Professionals (DSPs) at a mastery-skill level in accordance with the Community
Supports Skill Standards. Students graduating from the CSP are
eligible for positions in the health, human services, and education fields,
working with children, adolescents, young adults, adults, and the elderly.
Graduates support people with developmental disabilities, physical
disabilities, mental illness, substance abuse, traumatic brain injury and
related conditions. Students acquire knowledge and skills for performing
duties as DSPs in residential, vocational, recreation, health, and education
settings.
Advocates, self-advocates, staff, family members and team members
participate in many of the classroom sessions. Students are required to
participate in service learning activities with advocacy groups such as
volunteering to serve at local conferences and workshops, distributing
CSP information at local conferences, or presenting health and human
services information to local K-12 students. Students are also required
to complete an internship in a health, residential, vocational, educational
or recreational setting with people with disabilities. A mechanism has
been established to allow students who are not in the Mankato area
to complete internships in their home communities.
Students who complete the CSP earn 26 college credits in 8 courses.
In addition to completing the certificate coursework, students gain
knowledge and skills in human behavior, communication, and medication.
Upon completing the coursework from the certificate and diploma
the student have the option to complete the A.A.S. degree, which requires
an additional 20 credits of transferable general education coursework.
The diploma option develops supervisory and leadership skills and
allows students with 2 years of experience to obtain the Designated
Coordinator status which qualifies students to work in supervisory and
middle management positions in many human services settings. The Designated
Coordinator status is acknowledged in the state of Minnesota.
The A.A.S. degree also entitles the student to the Designated Coordinator
status. In addition, the A.A.S. degree offers graduating students the
option to continue their education at a four-year institution.
Enrollment in the CSP has increased from seven students in 1998 to
approximately 135 part time and full time students in 2005. Students are
enrolled from throughout Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Canada. The
overall placement rate for CSP students is 98% (including those students
who were employed when entering the program).
The CSP has incorporated professionalism and leadership into the DSP
occupations and agencies are recognizing graduates as professionals
who are committed to providing the most appropriate and least restrictive
supports and services to people with disabilities, their families and
network support teams.
For more information, contact: W.C. Sanders, 1920 Lee Blvd., North
Mankato, MN 56003; Phone: 507-389-7299; Fax: 507-388-9951; Email
wc.sanders@southcentral.edu.
The program Web site can be found at www.southcentral.edu/dept/csp.
|
|
Credentialing
|
The NADSP has developed a national credentialing program for Direct Support professionals working in community human services.
Credentialing Info
News Release
|
|
|
