In Honor of Direct Support Professionals Recognition Week We Are Offering the Following Free Recorded Webinars

IDD AND MENTAL HEALTH: UNDERSTANDING DUAL DIAGNOSIS BASICS

Like the rest of the population, people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) may experience mental health challenges over the course of their lives. Also, research has shown that they are more likely to experience a secondary psychiatric disorder. Dual Diagnosis is a term used to describe the presence of both IDD and symptoms of a mental illness. This webinar will review considerations for supporting people with a dual diagnosis, including barriers to recognizing mental health issues in people with IDD and the impact of mental health needs on an individual’s quality of life.
Presenter: Melissa Cheplic, MPH; Rutgers University, The Boggs Center on Developmental Disabilities

THE NADSP AND NADD DSP COMPETENCIES: SUPPORTING PEOPLE WITH DUAL DIAGNOSIS

Direct Support Professionals spend more time with the person with IDD/MI than any other professional. The competence of the DSP can make a big difference in the quality of life for people. Both NADSP and NADD have developed nationally recognized skills standards to certify the competence of DSPs who support people with IDD. We will review how to apply these competency areas to improve the quality and effectiveness of supports provided to individuals with Dual Diagnosis.
Presenters: Melissa Cheplic, MPH; Rutgers University, The Boggs Center on Developmental Disabilities; Dan Hermreck, Director of Certification and Accreditation, NADSP

ASSESSMENT SKILLS FOR DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS

Accurate assessment helps to identify physical or mental health symptoms, environmental triggers to behaviors, changes in moods, and other key information essential to support planning for people with IDD/MI. It can be a challenge to identify and evaluate factors that may contribute to signs and symptoms. This webinar will focus on strategies to differentiate between these causes, with an emphasis on indicators of a possible mental health condition.
Presenter: Melissa Cheplic, MPH; Rutgers University, The Boggs Center on Developmental Disabilities

POSITIVE APPROACHES TO CRISIS PREVENTION FOR PEOPLE WITH IDD/MI

A crisis can occur when a person’s health or safety is at risk due to unmet needs. Many crises can be prevented or interrupted by addressing underlying causes, including mental health symptoms and repeated behavioral challenges. This webinar will focus on specific positive approaches and effective intervention strategies to help direct support professionals reduce the impact of potential risk factors for people with IDD.
Presenter: Melissa Cheplic, MPH; Rutgers University, The Boggs Center on Developmental Disabilities

PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY AND THE ROLE OF THE DSP

People with dual diagnoses are at risk for further health problems and may take many medications. Medications are often prescribed and then changed repeatedly due to incomplete diagnostic information. Communication challenges can affect a person’s ability to report their effectiveness. This webinar will review considerations for the use of medication, including the role of the DSP in advocating for a person with co-occurring disorders during prescribing, planning, treatment, and recovery.
Presenter: Melissa Cheplic, MPH; Rutgers University, The Boggs Center on Developmental Disabilities

COMMUNITY CONNECTION AND COLLABORATION

A significant barrier to effective, meaningful supports for people with IDD is the separation of services. This can occur across systems, in the community, and within the person’s own support team. The Direct Support Professional has a critical role in helping an individual coordinate behavior, mental health, medical, and other support needs by facilitating communication and coordinating with other professionals. This webinar will explore how collaboration and teamwork can address barriers to supports by placing individuals at the center of his or her plan and decisions.
Presenter: Melissa Cheplic, MPH; Rutgers University, The Boggs Center on Developmental Disabilities

*This webinar series, originally co-sponsored by NADD and NADSP, will be available to view for free until September 26, 2021

NADD & NADSP Summer Webinar Series

Healing from the Heart

How We Can Connect to Help Ourselves and One Another in Times of Trauma and Loss

With Presenter: Lara Palay

Session 5: One Step Ahead: Being a Trauma Responsive Supervisor in Crazy Times

Wednesday, September 22, 2021 (2-3 pm EST)

In this final webinar, we shift our focus to frontline supervisors. These have been stressful times for finding and keeping staff and putting out fires throughout the pandemic. Giving feedback, prioritizing, troubleshooting, supporting stressed-out staff and strengthening morale are key to doing your job effectively and reducing your own stress. This session will build skills in these areas. We’ll use principles from the previous sessions to help address burnout on the job. We’ll review critical skills supervisors need to help themselves and their staff feel supported—safe, connected, and in control.

Objective 1: Participants will learn critical supervision skills in troubleshooting, prioritizing and having critical conversations with staff.

Objective 2: Participants will be able to identify ways to strengthen morale in a trauma-responsive environment.

Objective 3: Participants will explore how to help themselves and their staff feel safe, connected, and in control while on the job.

Webinars