Organization honored for workforce development program
(L-R): Joe McBeth, Executive Director of NADSP, Zalena Giles, Assistant Director of Human Resources, The Arc NCR, Shawn Kros, CEO, The Arc NCR, James Phillips, Senior Director of Human Resources, Mark Olson, Project Coordinator/Education Specialist 1, Institute on Community Integration (UCEDD) at the University of Minnesota
The Arc Northern Chesapeake Region (The Arc NCR) was named a 2018 “Moving Mountains” award recipient by the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP), the Research and Training Center (RTC) at the University of Minnesota’s Institute on Community Integration and the American Network of Community Options and Resources (ANCOR) at the Reinventing Quality Conference on Tuesday, July 31, 2018 in Baltimore City.
At the conference, attendees participated in workshop sessions covering a variety of topics including, but not limited to Managed Care, Creating and Managing a Culture of Care, Expanding Self-Direction Employees and enhancing the Direct Support Workforce in addition to a ceremony where the 2018 Moving Mountains awardees were announced. Shawn Kros, chief executive of The Arc NCR was in attendance to accept the award along with members of the organization’s Human Resources leadership team.
The Arc NCR was recognized for its utilization of leading practices in creating its Training and Development program specifically designed to provide meaningful professional development opportunities and improve the turnover rates of Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) within the organization – those who directly work with individuals with differing abilities to help them achieve their goals. The program was developed to address the national crisis around the retention of quality staff members in the industry.
The Arc NCR’s program has found success over the past three years through enhanced peer training and onboarding, compensation incentives around educational certificates and degrees, tuition reimbursement, personalized development planning and enhanced training of supervisory staff. Most notably, 100 percent of the 40 DSPs who completed the program have stayed with the organization.
“We are honored to receive this distinguished award,” says Kros. “Our Direct Support Professionals are the heartbeat of The Arc NCR, and they carry out our mission to empower people with differing abilities to live, work and play in our community each and every day. It was critical for us to invest in our team.”
Kros also noted The Arc NCR will continue to advocate amongst state and local legislation for an increase in the budget for service providers in the intellectual and developmental disabilities industry in order to directly increase the salaries of DSPs.
To learn more about a career at The Arc NCR and about its programs and services, upcoming events and ways to get involved, visit www.arcncr.org or call 410-836-7177.
About The Arc Northern Chesapeake Region
For sixty-five years, The Arc Northern Chesapeake Region has empowered people with differing abilities to live, work and play in our community by providing support services and advocacy to adults and children and their families in Harford and Cecil Counties. For more information, call 410-836-7177 or visit www.arcncr.org.
