Training Resources for Staff in Residential & Other Settings
To support regional centers, as well as residential providers, this page is meant to serve as an easy access point to training resources to ensure that individuals continue receiving quality services and supports in their home settings. If you have feedback related to the content you would like to submit, you can email DDSC19@dds.ca.gov.
General Information about COVID-19 for Community-Based Care Providers
- Information for Healthcare Professionals
- Session 1: Preventing Transmission and Identifying Risk VIDEO
- Session 2: Environmental Protections and Managing Medication VIDEO
- Session 3: Providing Information and Technology Resources VIDEO
- Session 4: Dealing with Psychosocial Concerns VIDEO
- COVID-19: What You Need to Know
- General Information about COVID-19 for Community-Based Care Providers
Prevention
- How to Protect Yourself
- Handwashing to Prevent COVID-19 VIDEO
- When and How to Wash your Hands
- Social Distancing, Quarantine, and Isolation
- COVID-19 Public Health Guidance Self-Isolation for Older Adults and Those Who Have Elevated Risk
- How to Wear a Cloth Face Covering
- How You Can Make Your Own Face Covering VIDEO
- When and How to Use Masks VIDEO
- Personal Protective Equipment: Questions and Answers
- Preparing for COVID-19: Long-term Care Facilities, Nursing Homes
- Cleaning and Disinfecting Your Facility
- Preparing Nursing Homes and Assisted Living Facilities for COVID-19 VIDEO
- Five Things To Know About Household Cleaning VIDEO
Treatment and Management if Caring for Suspected or Confirmed Individuals
- Transmission Based Precautions
- The Role of the DSP and Coronavirus VIDEO
- Caring for Someone at Home
- Implementing Home Care of People Not Requiring Hospitalization for Coronavirus Disease 2019
- Home Care for People with COVID-19 (for caregivers)
- 10 Things You Can Do to Manage COVID-19 at Home VIDEO
Information in ASL
- American Sign Language Video Series on COVID19 ASLVIDEO
- COVID-19 Info VIDEO
Información en Español
- COVID-19 en Español SPANISHVIDEO
COVID-19 Online Training by the World Health Organization (WHO)
The courses are free. Just register for an account on OpenWHO. The trainings are also available in multiple languages.
Supporting Individuals
- Supporting Individuals with Autism through Uncertain Times
- Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorders and Trauma Informed Care in IDD
- Recognizing Stress in Consumers VIDEO
- Preventing Involuntary Psychiatric Admissions: Identification, Support, and Referral
- Recommendations for Managing Challenging Behaviors During COVID-19
- Planning Schedule Changes VIDEO
For Direct Care Staff
- Strategies for Providers to Stay Well During the Coronavirus Pandemic
- Self-Care for DSPs
- 5 Things You Should Know About Stress
- How Staying Positive Helps
- Supporting Positive Thinking
- Caregiver Guide to Cope with the Coronavirus
- How to Manage Your Mental Health and Cope During COVID-19
- Take a Break and Prevent Burnout
- Mental Health Tips for Care Providers During Coronavirus
- Stress and Coping
Information and tools related to health and safety for self-advocates, direct support professionals, and vendors or providers.
- American Red Cross Disaster Preparedness for People with Disabilities VIDEO
- Recognizing Medical Emergencies
- First Aid Steps
- During COVID-19 Pandemic, it’s Especially Important to Know When to Go to the ER
- Prepare an Emergency Supply Kit
- Disaster Safety for People with Disabilities
- Fire Safety for People with Disabilities
- Fire Safety for Older Adults and Their Caregivers
- Fire Safety – Have Two Ways Out VIDEO
- Disability Rights – Rights for Individuals with IDD
- The Bill of Rights for People with Disabilities VIDEO
- DSP Core Competencies Informed Decision Making VIDEO
- Rights Summary
- Rights in Adult Residential Facilities
- Choices and Risk
- What is Person-Centered Planning? VIDEO
- Larry’s Story: Person-Centered Planning VIDEO
- Self-Advocacy
- Internet Safety
- Using the Internet-Talking about How to Stay Safe VIDEO
Adult Residential Facilities for Persons with Specialized Health Needs (ARFPSHN)
Community Crisis Homes (CCH) & Enhanced Behavioral Supports Homes (EBSH)
Family Home Agency (FHA)
- How to Cope with Disrupted Routines During COVID-19 VIDEO
- Helping Families with Special Needs During a Public Health Crisis: COVID-19
Independent Living Skills (ILS) & Supported Living Services (SLS)
- An Introduction to Positive Behavior Supports from BILD VIDEO
- Introduction to Positive Behaviour Support from Callan Institute VIDEO
- Visual Supports and Autism Spectrum Disorder
Health Passport
If someone you care for needs medical attention, you may be limited or unable to assist them if they require care in a hospital or treatment center. The Health Passport can be used to share important information with other health care professionals about the individual you serve and how to keep them safe. Below are examples of communication to doctors and hospitals adapted from various local and nationwide sources.
- Health Passport Example #1
- Health Passport Example #2
- Health Passport Example #3
- Health Passport Example #4
- Health Passport Example #5
- Health Profile
General Information
Respiratory Illness
- Flu Warning Signs That Need Medical Care Right Away VIDEO
- Chronic Respiratory Diseases
- Flu Symptoms and Complications
- Pneumonia an Infection of the Lungs
- Learn About Pneumonia
Choking
Urinary Tract Infections
Diabetes
Seizures
Falls
Oral Health
Burns
Drownings
Association of Regional Center Agencies Learning Center
To access these learning modules, you may register to create a new account and login. You may also use login credentials from an existing Regional Center Learning Center account. Further instructions are provided here. VIDEO
Disclaimer
The training resources provided on this website are only intended to assist regional centers and vendors with the training of staff during the COVID-19 crisis. Unless specified in a waiver or directive issued by the Director of the Department of Developmental Services and/or the Department of Public Health in response to COVID-19, the use of training resources on this website does not replace applicable law and regulations regarding staff training and competency, and does not otherwise guarantee staff competency.
The inclusion of external website links to training resources does not constitute or imply an endorsement or recommendation of material at the linked sites, their content or the services provided. The Department of Developmental Services accepts no responsibility for the content or accessibility of external websites or external documents linked to on this website.
When you select a link to an external website, you are leaving the Department of Developmental Services’ domain and are subject to the privacy policies of the external website.
Last modified: April 29, 2023
