Tag: Workforce Initiative

Direct Support Professionals Can Now Get Trained and Get Paid

By Jim Frazier, Public Policy Director, The Arc / UCP California Collaboration 

In an effort to recruit, train, and retain Direct Support Professionals (DSP) who provide vital supports and services to individuals with developmental disabilities, the California Department of Developmental Services (DDS) has launched the DDS Workforce Initiative. They are offering compensation to DSPs who take their training courses. This is a great opportunity to expand your skill set and get paid for it! Eligible DSPs who work 10 or more hours a week for a regional center service provider can now receive up to two $625 stipends (before taxes) if they complete the online training courses approved by DDS before June 30, 2024.

For a DSP to be eligible, they must meet these 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.

DSPs may access approved online training courses through the ARCA Learning Center (ARCA Learn) at Provider.ARCALearn.org. To obtain the first training stipend, DSPs must complete the Code of Ethics training. DSPs can receive a second stipend after they complete an additional DDS-approved course. While multiple training courses are available, DSPs will only receive a maximum of two stipend payments.  DSPs will need their employer’s vendor number, the vendor’s name, and the regional center associated with the vendor number. DSPs should ask their employer for this information before attempting to register for the Training Stipend Program. It is the DSP’s responsibility to ensure the vendor number used to register on ARCA Learn is accurate.

A list of Department approved online courses can be found under the DSP Training Stipend Program HERE.

Click HERE to download the flyer.

Please share this information with anyone who you think might qualify.

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