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DSP Minutes from 1999

Click below to go to a specific conference

 

Direct Support Professionals Conference April, 15th 1999 - St. Joseph Missouri

 

Direct Support Professional Conference July 15th, 1999 - Albany Regional Center

Direct Support Professionals of Missouri Conference November 11th, 1999 - St. Joseph Missouri

Direct Support Professionals of Missouri Conference February 19th, 2000 - St. Joseph Missouri

Direct Support Professionals Conference

April, 15th 1999 - St. Joseph Missouri

    The conference began at 9:30am at Progressive Community Services, with Gene presenting intervention and redirection.  The beginning topic was "Abuse and Neglect".

    Gene reviewed the definitions of the different types of abuse and neglect and shared many examples that helped us understand the definitions more clearly.  He then went on to tell us the right way to report abuse and neglect, and also the penalties for not reporting it.

    We broke for lunch at 12:15pm and returned for the afternoon discussion at 1:15pm.

    In the afternoon we talked about the next conference tentatively scheduled for July 15th.  We will have the conference at Albany Regional Center with a panel of ARC staff.  Future conferences will be scheduled in October - Creating a Home and an appreciation dinner in February.  Some other topics suggested for future conferences were:

  • A longer presentation (3hr.) from Gene Newman on Intervention and redirection.
  • Teamwork - keeping person centered thinking
  • Paperwork - getting a balance
  • Realistic Objectives
  • Ted Allen
  • Stress Management / Burnout
  • Leaving your job at your job
  • Residential / family issues
  • How to be a good advocate
  • UMKC - Grant writing

ARC Training

 

Service Coordinators   

  •     Don't communicate with staff
  •     Don't know the person well
  •      Take responsibilities on that they don't know enough about
  •     MUST find way to open lines of communications

                            - Social events

                             - Team approach

How do we get assistive technology for people with low income, nursing homes, etc.?

 

    Everyone was encouraged to checkout the DSP website and E-mail us anytime.  E-mail addresses were obtained to send DSP information to those on the net.  Mailing will continue.

 

Direct Support Professional Conference

July 15th, 1999 - Albany Regional Center

   The conference began at 9:30am with introductions and housekeeping. We welcomed the first-time participants as well as those who have returned for more training and information. We reviewed the DSP Mission Statement and the conference rules. We then explained the day’s plan and opened the floor to everyone, to write down their questions that they had to pose to the ARC staff. After collecting the questions into a basket to be asked anonymously, we welcomed ARC staff members: Ray Griffel, Jeff Conkle, Jo Bryson and Nick Patterson.

    The questions ranged from "How to get Case managers more involved?" to "Where and how do the people we support get their money?"

    All questions were addressed in a professional manner with respect to all persons and positions. ARC staff encouraged team efforts of all persons involved in the lives of people with disabilities. When all questions had been adequately addressed and no more brought up we broke for lunch.

    In the afternoon the topics of the morning were brought up for discussion. Everyone enjoyed to open Q&A with the ARC staff and thought that their answers covered a lot of administrative question, but that these questions were answered in a manner that explained things more clearly so Direct Support were able to understand the reason for specific procedures.

    Future conferences: For October some topics being considered are:

    1. Home enhancement / The Power of Roles
    2. Team Building
    3. Stress/Burn Out
    4. Feel It!

For February DSP Conference we would like to have a DSP Dinner with a special speaker. Also we would like to honor a Direct Support Professional of the Year for our area. Everyone seemed to like this idea. More information on how to nominate someone will be sent out in the near future. Participants suggested many possible locations for the event.

Meeting adjourned at 2pm

 

 

 

Direct Support Professionals Of Missouri Conference

November 11th, 1999 - St. Joseph, Missouri

We opened the conference with Gary Davis a team member for the Missouri Certification Project. He reviewed what the old licensure process was in comparison to the certification project. He gave out several handouts on the various issues that he covered in his presentation. One of those handouts was a statement from people with disabilities. It was very interesting and enlightening. He also answered a variety of questions. One big issue was Guardianship. Though he did not have the solution he had information to a conference being held in Springfield, Mo. on December 11, by people who are also interested in this issue.

We broke for lunch at 12:00n and gave out a position paper by MoANCOR that addressed the issue of wages in Missouri and the USA. We encouraged everyone to look it over and be ready to discuss it after lunch.

We reconvened at 1:00pm. We discussed the position paper and asked that people write their legislators and try to help pass this "One for Three for All". We then went on to discuss the topic of that morning, many people seemed to have issues about guardianship. They appreciated the information and thought that it gave them a better understanding of the Certification Project.

We also asked that they help DSPM by evaluating the conference and also any past conferences that they may have attend and how the conferences have affected their job working with people with disabilities.

We informed them that we were planning a banquet for the February conference and that we hoped to honor a Direct Support Professional of the Year in the Northwest Missouri area under the Albany Regional Center. To do this we gave out nomination forms so that they could nominate people for this honor.

Some topics discussed for future conferences included:
  • "Feel It!"
  • Staff Rights
  • Guardianship
  • Community Membership

The meeting was adjourned at 2:00pm.

Direct Support Professionals of Missouri Conference February 19th, 2000 - St. Joseph Missouri

This conference was actually a luncheon, held at the Albrecht-Kemper Museum. The article below was sent out to area media and, since we really didn't have any minutes, we thought we'd put this up instead.

We would like to thank everyone who made the day as wonderful as it was; the Staff at the Albrecht-Kemper Museum, Luna's Catering, KQ-2 and Mr Robert Bauermeister for presenting the award.

Jason Ternus Receives Award for Direct Support

Recognition for a job well done is something worked for, but rarely achieved. For direct support workers in the Northwest Missouri area, their day came on February 24th as Direct Support Professionals of Missouri (DSPM) held their first annual Direct Support Person of the Year Luncheon at the Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art in St. Joseph, Missouri.
"This is our chance to show Direct Support how important they are to this profession. They do an important job and, when they do it well, they aren’t often given the credit they deserve," explained Tracy Lowrey, one of the organizers of the event, "We are hoping to show them how important they are with this luncheon today."
Preparations for the event began in August of 1999, as organizers sent out nomination forms for the award to every agency in the Northwest Missouri area. Nominations were to focus on specific events that enhanced the lives of the people being supported. Twelve nominations were received and considered by a judging committee, made up of staff from the Albany Regional Center and local provider agencies.
Lowrey said, "It was a difficult process for the judges. All of the nominees were excellent, so it was hard to narrow it down to one person."
Robert Bauermeister, Missouri Department of Mental Health Deputy Director of the Northwest District, presented the award to Jason Ternus, of Maryville, Missouri. Ternus works for the Association of Group Homes/ Nodaway County Services in Maryville.
Ternus was pleased to accept the award; "I was very surprised. A lot of deserving people were nominated, so to be chosen is a big honor."
Also nominated were: Roberta Bennett, N.W.M.L.C., Tarkio, Mo., Jon Corkins, United Cerebral Palsy, St. Joseph, Mo., Vanessa Delay, Progressive Community Services, St. Joseph, Mo., Tammy Douglas, Unity Home Inc., St. Joseph, Mo., Palmer Eckert, Association of Group Homes/ Nodaway County Services, Maryville, Mo., Joseph Ewing, Unity Home, St. Joseph, Mo., Terry Fish, Concerned Services Inc., Stanberry Mo., Connie Keith, Woodland Hills 1&2, St. Joseph, Mo., Phyliss Penland, Sampsel Homes, St. Joseph, Mo., Marci Sager, Gentry County ARC, Albany Mo.
Direct Support Professionals of Missouri is attempting to enhance and elevate the lives of people being supported through their direct support staff. They provide enhancement training and a communication base for direct support in the Northwest area of Missouri and are attempting to expand the group across the state. For more information, contact them on the web at www.modmh.state.mo.us/dsp

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