DDS’s Workforce Initiatives aim to recruit, train, and retain workers from diverse communities who support individuals with intellectual and other developmental disabilities. Several Workforce Initiatives are being implemented to promote career advancement for Direct Service Professionals (DSPs) through competency-based training, stipends, pay differentials, and ongoing professional development. These efforts are designed to build a more sustainable workforce, enhance person-centered supports provided by DSPs, and create career pathways for regional center (RC) consumer service coordinators.
DDS Workforce Initiatives Overview
Workforce Initiatives include the following six programs:
- RC Employee Tuition Reimbursement Program
- DSP Training Stipend Program
- Bi-/Multi-Lingual Pay Differential
- DSP Internship Program
- DSP University & Associated Wage Differentials
- Technology Pilot Program
Under the tab for each program on this page, you will find:
- Eligibility Information
- Links to RC Guidance on the program
- Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) documents
Launched March 2023.
- Who Is Eligible: Regional center employees in good standing, including newly hired employees currently enrolled in an accredited degree or certification program.
- Eligible Academic Programs: The program shall be from an accredited institution in a health or human services-related field or a degree or certificate that the regional center determines will support or expand their employee’s current employment and career advancement options at the regional center.
- Concurrent Regional Center Work Requirements: At minimum, participants shall be active part-time employees and meet the regional center’s employee performance standards.
- Postgraduation Regional Center Work Requirements: In exchange for tuition reimbursement, the employee shall be required to work at the regional center for no less than one year for each year of tuition reimbursement following completion of their degree or certification. The regional center providing the tuition reimbursement shall notify the Department within 30 days of a participant requesting completing this work requirement at a different regional center. The participant’s new regional center is responsible for subsequent reporting to the Department.
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Beginning September 1, 2023, DSPs may receive up to two $625 (before taxes) stipends when they complete online training courses approved by the Department of Developmental Services available in the ARCA Learning Center. The DSP Training Stipend Program will remain open until August 31, 2024, and all courses must be completed by that date.
Department approved courses:
- Code of Ethics, (required as 1st Training) produced by the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals
- An Introduction to Informed Decision-Making for Direct Support Professionals
- DSPs and the Home and Community Based Service Settings Rule (HCBS): What You Need to Know
- LBGTQIA+ Awareness and Understanding
Soft launch April 2023 and fully launched September 2023.
Participation in the DSP Training Stipend Program is voluntary for the DSP. To be eligible for the training stipend, DSPs, including some frontline supervisors and clinical staff, must meet the following eligibility requirements:
- Work as a paid DSP an average of 10 hours or more per week;
- Perform direct support tasks like skills development, guidance, and personal assistance to individuals served by a regional center as a regular part of their job duties;
- Spend at least 50% of work hours doing direct support tasks; and
- Are employed by a regional center vendor, or by a participant in the Self-Determination Program.
For the purpose of this training stipend program, the following are not eligible even if a portion of their work involves providing direct support:
- Staff paid through a funding source other than the regional center, such as Medi-Cal, health insurance or a school district; with the exception of DSPs working in ICF/DD, ICF/DD-H, and ICF/DD-N, and ICF/DD-CN.
- Those who only provide intermittent service such as home modification, and/or meal delivery services;
- Staff hired through temporary personnel agency;
- Contract or 1099 workers;
- On-call or PRN workers;
- Volunteers; and
- Administrative or supervisory staff, unless they spend 50% or more of their time doing direct support work.
If you are eligible to participate in the DSP Training Stipend Program and wish to participate, please scan here:
Workforce Development and Training: Direct Service Professional Training Stipend Program: English | Spanish PDF
Workforce Development and Training: Direct Service Professional Training Stipend Program – Intermediate Care Facilities (ICF): English | Spanish PDF
Workforce Development and Training – Direct Service Professional Training Stipend Program: English | SpanishPDF
- Enclosure A – DSP Training Stipend Program Fact Sheet PDF
- Enclosure B – DSP Training Stipend Program FAQs PDF
- Enclosure C – DSP Training Stipend Agreement PDF
Initiated Fall 2023.
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Initiated Phase 1A: Fall 2023.
DSP Intern Eligibility Requirements:
DSP Interns must:
- Be at least 18 years of age;
- Have a high school diploma, General Educational Development (GED) equivalent, or a Certificate of Completion;
- Have a valid Government-issued identification card;
- Pass the background check and other required health screenings; and
- Execute and abide by the DSP Intern Agreement (Enclosure A) with All’s WELL.
For Interested Individuals Requesting to Participate in the Program:
- Interested individuals requesting to participate in the Program may contact dspinterns@allswell.com
Service Provider Eligibility Requirements:
- Be in good standing with the regional center and not subject to any sanction while participating in the Program;
- Execute and abide by all the DSP Provider Participation Agreement with All’s WELL;
- Have a qualified DSP employee willing to and capable of mentoring and supervising, at all times, an entry-level DSP Intern; and
- Provide the DSP Intern with orientation and task-oriented training.
For Providers Requesting to Participate in the Program:
- Step 1: Service Providers must contact their regional center’s designated DSP Internship email address.
- Step 2: Regional Centers shall inform DDS by submitting the provider’s information into the online platform.
- Step 3: Once identified by DDS, All’s WELL will contact service provider, survey program needs and work together to execute DSP Provider Participation Agreement.
- Step 4: All’s WELL will work directly with service provider to collaboratively make the intern placement.
- Step 5: Once the DSP Intern has been placed, the service provider is encouraged to contact their assigned All’s WELL recruiter and report any concerns or provide feedback about the DSP Intern when such arises.
- Step 6: Service providers may hire the DSP Intern as their own employee at any time during the internship; All’s WELL will assist with conversion.
- Workforce Development and Training: Direct Service Professional Internship Program: English PDF
The DSP University differs from the Direct Support Professional Training (DSPT). For additional information regarding DSPT, visit Direct Support Professional Training, or email ccfdsp@dds.ca.gov.
Anticipated in Spring 2024.
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Technology services are intended to provide supports and services necessary for individuals to access services remotely and meet the goals identified in their Individual Program Plans. The goal of the program is to provide support of the participant’s individual program plan goals, reduce the need for a direct support person and enable the participant greater independence, inclusion, and quality of life.
Initiated 1st Cohort March 2024.
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- Who Is Eligible: Regional center employees in good standing, including newly hired employees currently enrolled in an accredited degree or certification program.
- Eligible Academic Programs: The program shall be from an accredited institution in a health or human services-related field or a degree or certificate that the regional center determines will support or expand their employee’s current employment and career advancement options at the regional center.
- Concurrent Regional Center Work Requirements: At minimum, participants shall be active part-time employees and meet the regional center’s employee performance standards.
- Postgraduation Regional Center Work Requirements: In exchange for tuition reimbursement, the employee shall be required to work at the regional center for no less than one year for each year of tuition reimbursement following completion of their degree or certification. The regional center providing the tuition reimbursement shall notify the Department within 30 days of a participant requesting completing this work requirement at a different regional center. The participant’s new regional center is responsible for subsequent reporting to the Department.
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Last modified: December 4, 2024