The DSP Internship Program is a up to three-month training and internship program that provides standardized, new direct care workforce entry-level training and practical work experience. This program will focus outreach efforts on populations that reflect California’s diverse population and do not traditionally have a pathway towards jobs in the field of providing services to individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities.
Launched: August 30, 2024.
Eligibility and How to Participate
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.
Process for Service Providers Requesting to Participate in the Program:
- Step 1: Service providers will notify the Department of their interest in participating in the Program. Providers will need to give the Department their vendor name and address, vendor number, the regional center associated with the vendor number, primary service code where the DSP Intern will be mentored, sanction status, the name of the provider’s point of contact, and their email address and telephone number. All information must be submitted by the provider through the Department’s online portal at: Direct Service Professional Internship Program Portal.
- Step 2: The Department will determine whether the provider meets the basic eligibility requirements to participate in the program, as described in the August 2024 letter above.
- A) If the Department determines that the provider meets the basic eligibility requirements, the Department will verify with the regional center, via the regional center portal, whether the provider is under a current sanction.
- B) If the Department determines that the provider does not meet the basic eligibility requirements, the Department will notify the vendor’s point of contact. In this case, Steps 3 thru 6 do not apply.
- Step 3: Once the Department receives confirmation from the regional center of the vendor’s sanction status, or if the regional center does not verify the status within ten days, a final eligibility determination will be made by the Department.
- A) If the Department determines that the provider is eligible to participate, the Department will make the vendor’s information available to All’s WELL Healthcare Services (All’s WELL). All’s WELL then will contact the vendor directly.
- B) If the Department determines that the provider is not eligible to participate, the Department will notify the vendor’s point of contact. In this case, Steps 4 thru 6 do not apply.
- Step 4: Once the DSP Provider Participation Agreement has been executed and a DSP intern has been identified, All’s WELL will work with the eligible service provider to collaboratively make the intern placement. Service providers will be actively engaged in the DSP Intern selection process.
- Step 5: Once the DSP Intern has been placed, the eligible service provider is required to work with All’s WELL to report any concerns and provide feedback about the DSP Intern.
- Step 6: Service providers are encouraged to hire the DSP Intern as their own employee at any time during the internship. All’s WELL will assist with the conversion as part of its contract with the Department.
Authorizing Statute Information
Last modified: October 2, 2025