1997

1999

DSPM News

DSPM History

DSPM Links

DSPM Map

Home

dsp logo color.gif (3141 bytes)

DSP Minutes from 1998

Click below to go to a specific conference

Direct Support Professionals Conference March 31, 1998 - Maryville, Missouri

Direct Support Professionals Conference June 24, 1998 - St. Joseph

Direct Support Professionals Conference August 15, 1998 - St. Joseph, Missouri

Direct Support Professionals Conference December 8, 1998 - Maryville, Missouri

Direct Support Professionals Conference
March 31, 1998 - Maryville, Missouri


In attendance:                DyEllen Wallace - Nodaway County Services
                                    Tracy Lowrey - Nodaway County Services
                                    Don Carrick - Nodaway County Services
                                    Teresa Albright - Platte County Board of Services
                                    Roberta Bennett - Northwest Missouri Learning Center
                                    Marsha Potter - Progressive CS
                                    Regina Burk - Progressive CS
                                    Marilyn Finney - MERIL
                                    Debbie Merritt - MERIL

    To begin, we showed "Credo For Support" and reviewed the previous conferences for those who had not attended. We went on to discuss future meeting topics which included:

  • Michael Smull - to discuss Essential Lifestyle Planning
  • Mike McCarthy - to discuss person centered planning
  • How to get in on plans from the beginning
  • Burn out
  • Ted Allen - to discuss behavioral support planning
  • Documentation
  • Certification Principles
  • Success story luncheon
  • Relationship training - dating, sexuality
  • Team Building
  • Community awareness
  • No info in college about going into this field, perhaps job fair exhibit?
  • Low job esteem
  • Get community involved in peoples lives, "They come to us"
  • Parity of salaries
  • Community education
  • More natural employment
  • Self advocacy
  • Autonomy in direct support
  • Abuse & Neglect
  • Age appropriateness
  • Stress
  • Hiring process
  • DSP website
  • Modesty issues

    We also discussed options for funding this years DSP conferences.
   

    The core group will be meeting in the very near future to review this information and begin planning for the next conference.

Direct Support Professionals Conference
June 24, 1998 - St. Joseph


    The Conference started at 9:30 a.m. with Gene Newman presenting, "Stress Management." He began with an icebreaker of blackout bingo.
    

    Newman also pointed out some very common stress causes by giving Stress Self-analysis Test. There were four sections to the test, each dealing with how you deal with stress. He discussed the importance of healthy eating habits and exercise, and gave coping strategies and stress relief techniques. Gene also stressed the importance of having the interpersonal support of family, friends and co-workers.
   

    After a short break, Gene Newman spoke again on the subject of burnout. He gave everyone a 21 experience questionnaire to rate their level of burnout. Newman offered to help anyone who was experiencing this serious ailment.
   

    After lunch, Newman spoke on humor in the workplace. He brought out the importance of having humor in the workplace and when it is not appropriate.
   

    We had 50 people in attendance, representing 12 different agencies from the area and from as far away as Kirksville, Missouri. We discussed future plans for a conference on team building and the possibility of a success story dinner in February.

Direct Support Professionals Conference
August 15, 1998 - St. Joseph, Missouri

    This conference started at 10:00 am. Leechia Jones, Family Guidance Center in St. Joseph, was our presenter and she did a wonderful job. We had 19 people in attendance. Including direct support and providers.

    We started the conference by defining the word, TEAM, Together Everyone Accomplishes More. Leechia had several handouts to correspond with the exercises. We went on to find out what we look for in a team member. Ms. Jones shared several games and activities to promote teamwork. Before we broke for lunch she gave us instructions on what to do with the items setting on the tables in front of us. We had to develop a product that would be needed by the community.

    After lunch we all went back to our stations and began working together to develop our product. We had a wide variety of different ideas of how to use the items on the table. Some made holiday baskets, others virtual glasses (so you could look like you were listening to your boss talk while you took a nap) and then we had some political products that I just don’t know how to describe. After showing that we all had creativity Ms. Jones gave us yet another activity on communication called the Cup and Saucer. By passing the cup one way and the saucer another we began to have some confusion as to what we were supposed to be doing. This exercise shows how sometimes we need to step out of our station and help one another to do our job better.

    We are working on the next DSP conference for November, hoping to get John Hockenberry to speak at that conference, but we have still not had any response to our request. Don’t forget to get your Success stories turned in to Direct Support Professionals, P.O. Box 454, Maryville, Mo. 64468 by October 2nd, 1998. So we can begin planning our February dinner.

 

Direct Support Professionals Conference
December 8, 1998 - Maryville, Missouri

   "Feel It" training 9:30am – 12n

    1:15pm – introductions

    Topics of discussions:

  • about DSP
  • Provider meeting
  • Need to be discussed at future training’s
    1. More burn-out / stress management – mental health day
    2. Turn over rate
    3. Communication
    4. "Day in the Life"
    5. Staff shortage
    6. Behavior of folks – "if they do that one more time!?"
    7. Lack of information – "ELP"
    8. **Train & Support for case managers – they don’t know the person
    9. Paper work - monthly reviews – come visit the person instead of just getting a piece of paper
    10. AAMR – more for direct support – there are more DSP represented than you think
    11. PASSING
    12. Concern – transport in own car & own insurance is first – a clause for this. – Insurance goes way up! If Company knows for commercial use.
    13. Beth Morris – Arkansas, comedian, teambuilding.
    14. Another ARC administration staff meeting & service coordinate supervisors – Jo Bryson
    15. Certification Principles
    16. Sexuality – Dave Hingsburger
    17. Mileage $ doesn’t cover it – should be uniform

Some e-mail addresses for DSP:

A national group: http://www.ici.coled.umn.edu/DSP/

 

A chat room for DSP in Missouri: http://www.moddrc.com/enter-ihd.html

 

A future web site for us (DSP of NWMo.): http://www.modmh.state.mo.us/dsp

 

Our local DSP e-mail address: dirsup@asde.com

 

    We were very pleased with the number of newcomers and we hope that they enjoyed the conference. The good turn out and the great participation of everyone encouraged us in attendance. We will continue to keep you up to date with future conferences and activities, as they become available.


Back to DSP History page