The direct support professional apprenticeship training program was developed in conjunction with the Ivy Tech Community College Apprenticeship Hub.
Southern Indiana Resource Solutions (SIRS), in partnership with Ivy Tech Community College and with grant funding through the U.S. Department of Labor’s Apprenticeship Building America program, announced the development and registration of a new apprenticeship program for the occupation of direct support professional (DSP).
Services provided by direct support professionals are pivotal to the mission of SIRS. This community-driven organization was born in 1968 from the grassroots efforts of local parents of adults with disabilities. These parents, desiring to keep their children in their homes and local communities instead of state-run institutions, founded SIRS to provide individualized, person-centered services that support individuals at all life stages.
“The DSP position is in explosive demand, and recruitment and retention are low. A DSP’s training is complex, and they must learn many competencies throughout their short training. We aim to redefine the pace and scope at which we train a DSP, potentially improving the value of the position significantly,” said Cheryl Mullis, chief executive officer, SIRS. “We are at a critical juncture and must decide to do more to shape and prepare our future workforce. We hope this apprenticeship opportunity will give us the leverage and resources necessary to slow down the training process and be deliberate in relaying the big picture. Ultimately, we want DSPs to feel more confident and appreciated. In turn, the position will be more attractive.”
“This apprenticeship opportunity also creates a career pathway for DSPs into leadership positions and expands into related industries such as employment services,” said Amanda Vandewege, employment services director for SIRS.
Ivy Tech Chancellor Daniela Vidal said Ivy Tech is ideally positioned to prepare students to be skilled employees and ready for the needs of the future through this apprenticeship. “Ivy Tech has the flexibility to identify a need and develop a pathway through apprenticeship training to build the needed workforce. We welcome more partnerships like this.”
The direct support professional apprenticeship training program was developed in conjunction with the Ivy Tech Community College Apprenticeship Hub. Scott Derr, an apprenticeship hub navigator for Ivy Tech, worked with SIRS leadership to identify an apprenticeship pathway and appropriate related training activities to support this new position. Additionally, current SIRS staff who are already in DSP roles are also eligible to participate in the apprenticeship program. Their years of service and past training can be applied to the requirements allowing them to also earn a journey person’s certificate through the U.S. Department of Labor.
Another feature of the apprenticeship is the Ivy Tech Achieve Your Degree (AYD) program, which enables apprentices to take classes without making the normal upfront tuition payment. Instead, course costs are paid by the employer, after the apprentice has completed the course, in alignment with their tuition assistance policies.
The Apprenticeship Building America grant program is designed to expand and modernize registered apprenticeship by increasing the number of programs and apprentices, diversifying the industries that use registered apprenticeship and improving the access to and performance of registered apprenticeship programs for underrepresented and underserved communities.
SIRS is now accepting applications for the DSP position and will be hiring one for each of their service counties: Spencer/Perry, Warrick and Dubois. Those interested can find more information at https://www.sirs.org/.