Do you know someone who would be a great Direct Service Professional (DSP) and/or someone looking for a rewarding and fulfilling career path? Tell them about the Department of Developmental Services (DDS) DSP Internship Program! The department kickstarted the DSP Internship Program in Spring 2024. Thank you to the regional centers, providers, and the team at All’s Well who have been collaborating on the program and bringing it to life. We’ve already seen successful interns become DSPs.
The DSP Internship Program is a paid three-month program with on-the-job and entry-level training. It provides individualized and practical work experience for people interested in becoming a DSP. DDS and regional centers will begin rolling out
the DSP Internship Program statewide over the course of the next few months. To date, 24 interns have been placed in various settings. Three of those interns have gone on to become employed DSP. Meet one of those interns turned DSP below!
William Tye wasn’t sure what his future career looked like. He has worked in various warehouse jobs, but he wanted to explore something different. With the DSP Internship program, he believes he’s found a new path. “I never had a passion to focus my time on but now I feel like I’ve found a place where I could see myself staying for a very long time,” he said.
William learned about the DSP Internship Program online through an All’s Well online job posting. DDS has been working with All’s Well on amplifying the program and identifying and onboarding candidates. All’s Well is a third-party workforce management company. They are working with service providers to plan the intern training opportunities. The program administrators say William Tye was an engaged and enthusiastic intern. He trained with multiple knowledgeable and skilled DSP’s. Now, he is excelling in his new role as a DSP at The Arc of San Diego.
“Mr. Tye is very easy going. He gets along very well with both staff and clients and is willing to help out in any way he can. He builds a rapport with the clients, wanting to know what they like and dislike,” Leilanie Baltazar, All’s Well Program Administrator, said. “He is ready to work as soon as he arrives.”
William says the All’s Well and The Arc of San Diego teams have been nothing but supportive as he learns new skills and gets to know all the people he supports and works with. He’s excited about what this means for his future. “Every single DSP I worked with at the East County Training Center want nothing but the best for me,” he said. “I think this is one of the best entry ways into a medical-related field if you’re looking to start.”
