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Contact Information:
Sandra Mlinarcik,
SPEAK Director
E-Mail:
smlinarc@sevencounties.org
Phone:
(502)459-5292 ext. 7112 Beth Richardson,
SPEAK
Training Coordinator
E-Mail:
brichardson@councilonmr.org
Phone:
(502) 584-1239
Diu Hong,
SPEAK
Technical Assistant
E-Mail:
dhong@sevencounties.org
Phone:
(502)459-5292 ext. 7139 |
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2007 Moving
Mountains Award |
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SPEAK (Support Providing Employees Association of Kentucky) is one of
two recipients of the 2007 Moving Mountains
Awards from the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP).
These awards are presented to organizations and agencies that have
demonstrated best practices in direct support workforce development.
They are awarded by the Research and Training Center (RTC) on Community
Living at the University of Minnesota in partnership with NADSP.
“We are honoring SPEAK for excellence in pre-service orientation,
mentoring of new hires, its in-service training and promoting DSP
recognition and professionalism,” Hewitt said.
SPEAK is a DSP organization in the metro Louisville, KY., area that
is guided by two lead agencies – The Council on Mental Retardation and
Seven Counties Services, Inc.
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2008 Fourth Annual DSP Apprieciation
Banquet |
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On
March 27 SPEAK (Support Providing Employees’ Association of KY) held its
fourth Direct Support Professional (DSP) recognition banquet at the
Executive West Hotel. The Kentucky Developmental Disabilities Council
sponsored the awards ceremony in cooperation with SPEAK providers of
services to people with disabilities. Dawne Gee, anchorwoman for Wave 3
TV, was the Master of Ceremonies. A SPEAK musical tribute in
appreciation of DSPs was sung by Kelly Goforth.
The evening of recognition is one of SPEAK’S activities to
express appreciation to the direct support professionals who provide
supports to persons with disabilities. Twelve direct support
professional’s received the DSP of the year award and 13 direct support
professional’s received the Shooting Star Award. The DSP of the year
must be a person who has been working as a DSP for over a year and the
Shooting Star is given to a new DSP that shows promise and heart for the
work they do. Staff members, supervisors and many time consumers select
nominees.
The celebrated award
recipients were:
DSP of the Year:
Mattingly Center- Margaret Clark, Central State- Taiwo Bamikole, Dreams
with Wings- Sarah Tackett, Seven Counties Services, Inc.- Stephanie
Curry, Rauch, Inc.- Lillian Wells, Zoom Group- Paulette Campbell, Cedar
Lake Residences- Sheree Stucker, Community Living- Karen Donohue,
Dayspring- Phil Rhodes, ETA- Yvonne Allen, Harbor House- Sarah Beck,
Options Unlimited- Amy Coffer, Lifeskills- David Hall.
Shooting Star of the Year:
Mattingly Center- Michelle Casey, Central State- Jonus McFarlin, Dreams
with Wings- Eunice Metcalf, Seven Counties Services, Inc.- Tornette
Wales, Rauch, Inc.- Latonya Crutcher, Zoom Group- Kim McCampbell, Cedar
Lake Residences- LaDonna McDonald, Community Living- Nuno Abek & Beth
Smith, Dayspring- Kym Cormier, ETA- Zelanda Simmons, Harbor House-
Brittany Varvel, Options Unlimited- Robert Meng, Lifeskills- Danielle
Jackson.
Please view photos from our DSP Photo Gallery.
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Why does SPEAK exist?
There are more than 54
million Americans with disabilities- eight million of whom have
diagnoses of mental retardation and other developmental disabilities,
with nearly 14 million requiring long-term supports and services from
DSPs. Nationally, there is a 50-77% turnover rate among DSPs.
In an industry where the supports provided are intimate, including
personal care, hygiene, and sometimes direct handling of another's
money, relationships of trust are critical. SPEAK helps discover
what supports are necessary and then provides those that will help keep DSPs in the workforce. The heart and soul of SPEAK is to recruit
and retain DSPs in the metro Louisville region.
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Who is a DSP?
Direct Support Professionals
(DSPs) provide hands-on care to a wide range of individuals, including
people with developmental disabilities; dual diagnoses of mental
retardation and mental illness; severe emotional disturbance, and/or
severe mental illness; and aging persons. DSPs are the "hands,
feet and heart" of the direct service industry.
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What is SPEAK?
SPEAK is an association offering
a variety of meaningful supports to DSPs in the metro Louisville region.
We offer partnering agencies opportunities for their DSPs to network
with other DSPs, to attend specialized trainings, and to attend special
DSP appreciation events. As DSPs reach milestones in tenure, SPEAK
helps celebrate their accomplishments. Members also are given
opportunities to mentor new DSPs.
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Services Offered by SPEAK
Pre-service
orientation
Gives DSP job applicants a realistic
preview of the work prior to being hired.
Mentor/apprenticeship program
Pairs up newly hired DSPs with a seasoned DSP to help new applicant
adjust to a new work environment and learn best practices from a peer.
Training and discussion
opportunities for DSPs
The Leadership Institute
publishes a quarterly lecture series on topics related to DSP work.
Brown bag lunches are scheduled for DSPs to informally network with
other DSPs. Topics and schedule of the lecture series and brown
bag lunches are published in the quarterly newsletter and also can be
accessed at here (link to the newsletter)
Quarterly newsletter and website
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Links to relevant DSP resources and
information
College of
Direct Support
National Alliance for Direct
Support Professional
ANCOR (American Network of
Community Option and Resources)
Direct Support Professionals
The National
Clearing- House on the Direct Care Workforce
ParaProfessional
Health- Care Institute
Quality Mall
Resource and Training Center
on Community Living
Metro Parks
How to Participate?
If you are a DSP in one of our partnering agencies:
-SPEAK membership
is offered to those who have reached one year of tenure or beyond.
-All DSPs (new and seasoned) can attend all of our trainings and events
free of charge. Calendars of events are available
here.
If you
are a DSP in a non-partnering agency:
-You may
attend the lectures and/or brown bag lunches for a small fee. Call
Beth Richardson, SPEAK Training Coordinator
(502) 584-1239
How to become a member?
If you are a DSP or agency who
would like to join SPEAK,
please contact
Sandra Mlinarcik
at (502) 459-5292,
or
Beth Richardson at
(502) 584-1239. |
