Direct Support Professional Internship Program Toolkit

The Department created the tools below for our state and community partners. All of the materials in this toolkit are designed to be shared with your audiences across your channels. When sharing, you can tag the Department at @caldds_ on Instagram, @CaliforniaDDS on Facebook and X, and DDSCareers on LinkedIn. Please email pio@dds.ca.gov with questions.

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• Caption for DSP Internship Program Recruitment (Discover a Career with Heart)

Want a career that makes a difference?

Direct Support professionals (DSPs) support people with disabilities to live, work, and thrive in their communities. The DSP Internship Program gives you training, mentorship, and a pathway to a meaningful job.

Apply today and start building a career that changes lives – including yours.

dspinternship.allswell.com

Spanish

¿Quieres una carrera que haga la diferencia?

Los profesionales de Apoyo Directo (DSP por sus siglas en inglés) apoyan a las personas con discapacidad para que vivan, trabajen y prosperen en sus comunidades. El Programa de Pasantías de DSP le ofrece capacitación, mentoría y un camino hacia un trabajo significativo.

Complete su solicitud hoy mismo y comience a construir una Carrera que cambie vidas – incluso la suya.

dspinternship.allswell.com

• Caption for Service Provider Slides (Hire Faster. Hire Quality.)

Service Providers!

DDS’ contractor All’s Well recruits, screens, and then pays your intern’s salary for three months while you train them to become valued team members.

You can decide to officially employ them at any time. That’s hiring, made easy.

Take the first step by emailing workforce@dds.ca.gov to get started.

dspinternship.allswell.com

Spanish

¡Proveedores de Servicios!

All’s Well, contratista del DDS registra, selecciona y paga el salario de sus pasantes durante tres meses mientras (usted) los capacita para que se conviertan en miembros valiosos de su equipo.

Ustedes pueden tomar la decisión de contratarlos oficialmente en cualquier momento. Esto hace la contratación más fácil.

Tome el primer paso para comenzar, envíen un correo electrónico a workforce@dds.ca.gov

dspinternship.allswell.com

Social Media Stories

When adding to Instagram stories, use the open space to add a link to dspinternship.allswell.com and choose background music that is calm, positive, and uplifting.

Website Banner

• Service Providers: Paid DSP Interns Can be a “Game-Changer” for Your Business
• Staffing challenges? The DSP Internship Program is here to support you!
• From Intern to Essential: Apply Today to Explore a Job with a Service Provider
• Looking for a Community-Based Career? Get Started as a DSP with a Regional Center Service Provider.

Article for Newsletter or Website

Service Providers: Hire Faster. Hire Quality. Grow Your Team with the DSP Internship Program!

The Direct Support Professional (DSP) Internship Program is a meaningful statewide initiative all California service providers are encouraged to participate in! It’s a great opportunity to hire and keep more DSPs! Each intern placed with a service provider is vetted and paid for up to three months.

Did we say PAID? Yes, each intern’s salary is paid by the Internship Program for up to three months. You choose how to move forward with the option to hire interns at any time during the process. If hired, your new employee can earn a $625 retention stipend for reaching 6-month and 12-month employment milestones. That’s an extra $1,250 of potential earnings to support quality staff!

What are participating service providers saying?

“Over the past year, partnering with DDS for the DSP Internship Program has been a game-changer.” — Chris Martin, UCP of Stanislaus County

“We couldn’t be happier with the program and recommend it to all. It’s been an incredible resource for our company’s growth.” — Matt Baker, Shield of Dreams of Orange County

“In today’s challenging hiring environment, this initiative has proven to be a valuable resource in identifying and onboarding quality entry-level candidates.”  — A Better Life Together, Inc., based in San Diego

For __________ Regional Center’s service providers that would like to know more about the program, we’re prepared to guide you each step of the way.

Step 1: Email the DSP Internship Program staff to express interest in participating.

Step 2: All’s Well will contact you directly, survey your program needs and work with you to execute a Provider Participation Agreement.

Step 3: You’ll collaborate with All’s Well team to make each intern placement.

There is no better time for service providers to join this program than now! The individuals we support face daily challenges as staffing shortages often force providers like you to have to turn away new referrals. Statewide, positive strides are already being made with nearly 300 interns placed with service providers over the past year, and 100 hired on as regular staff.

__________ Regional Center, DDS, and All’s Well want to partner with you to grow California’s DSP workforce. We can’t wait to see the positive impact it will have on your business and the people we support each day.

Informational Flyers

In progress.

Email Message for Your Service Providers

Email Subject Line: A “Game-Changer” for Service Providers: The Direct Support Professional Internship Program Helps You Hire Quality Staff, Faster

Email Draft:

Community Partner,

Need to grow your support staff quickly? Hire quality candidates faster with the Direct Support Professional Internship Program.

The Internship Program screens and then pays your intern’s salary for three months while you train them to become valued team members in your program.

You can decide to officially employ them at any time. That’s hiring, made easy.

Don’t just take it from us – See what some of the nearly 300 participating service providers are saying:

“Over the past year, partnering with DDS for the DSP Internship Program has been a game-changer.” — Chris Martin, UCP of Stanislaus County

“We couldn’t be happier with the program and recommend it to all. It’s been an incredible resource for our company’s growth.” — Matt Baker, Shield of Dreams of Orange County

“In today’s challenging hiring environment, this initiative has proven to be a valuable resource in identifying and onboarding quality entry-level candidates.”  — A Better Life Together, Inc., based in San Diego

There is no better time for service providers to join this program than now! The individuals we support face daily challenges as staffing shortages often force providers like you to have to turn away new referrals.

Take the first step by emailing workforce@dds.ca.gov to get started.  You also can visit dspinternship.allswell.com to learn more.