RESOURCES
Realistic Job Preview (RJP)
TennCare produced a Tennessee-Specific Realistic Job Preview (RJP) that focuses on Employment and Community First services and supports. Additionally, there are five Public Service Announcements (PSAs) with aligned targeted marketing flyers based on target audiences identified by TN key stakeholders.
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Use this tool to:
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Communicate the job responsibilities to applicants
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Share with recruitment partners and organizations to explain the role and inform their clients
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Present to students and instructors to increase awareness and interest in the role
DSP Button Campaign
DIDD initiated a marketing campaign to increase awareness of the DSP role. These "What is a DSP" buttons are meant to spark conversation about the DSP role to bring general awareness to the profession and attract potential candidates.
Use this tool to:
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Promote a sense of pride among your staff regarding their profession
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Share with your staff to boost your referral program
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Use at recruiting events to begin a conversation about the role
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Wear in the community to spark organic conversation for awareness and recruitment
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Encourage clients to wear them to recognize staff and increase awareness of the role
DSP Career Pathway
Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) play a vital role in Tennessee’s workforce and economy by providing necessary supports and services to people with disabilities of all ages. Entry level DSPs might begin their careers in the healthcare field. However, career opportunities abound. This tool highlights the different career growth opportunities that exist for someone who works as a DSP. See the official career ladder at this link: DSP Career Pathway (tn.gov)
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Use this tool to:
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Recruit new employees into the field by highlighting the career growth opportunities that exist
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Communicate to candidates the relevance of this role to their future career goals
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Retain current staff by encouraging their growth and showing them a path forward in your organization
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Begin the conversation on training and development with current staff to help them reach their career goals
DSP Integrated Education & Training (IET) Program
BlueCare, in collaboration with Adult Education, created an IET for the DSP role. This 5-week training program is catered specifically to ESL (English Second Language) individuals and teaches the fundamentals of DSP work to prepare jobseekers for a role in this industry. It provides foundational education on soft skills (business etiquette, attire, online security) as well as basic DSP background (person-centered supports, DSP role awareness).
Use this tool to:
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Recruit candidates who have basic training and expressed interest in these roles
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Connect with the New American population
Coursera
The Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD) has partnered with Coursera, one of the world's leading online learning platforms.
Coursera allows students to start most classes at their convenience and set work deadlines that accommodate their other time commitments. Questions can be sent to: dspspoc@gmail.com
Use this tool to:​
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Upskill employees
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Create customized professional development plans
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Enhance staff trainings
Toolkit - University of Minnesota
TennCare is collaborating with TNCO and the Institute on Community Integration (ICI) at the University of Minnesota to address workforce challenges for direct support professionals (DSPs) in Tennessee. ICI created this online DSP Workforce Toolkit for Tennessee organizations. This toolkit is a collection of evidence-based tools and strategies that assist organizations in finding, choosing, and keeping quality DSPs. To learn about the tools and strategies available in the Tennessee DSP Workforce Toolkit, visit TennCare Workforce Initiative | TennCare (umn.edu).
Use this tool for strategies to:
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Recruit DSPs
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Retain DSPs
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Select DSP
Additional Supports
1
WFD Consultations
Each MCO has a Workforce Development Team available as a resource and support to providers experiencing staffing challenges. These teams collaborate regionally to offer individual provider consultations catering suggestions and resources to your agency's specific needs.
2
WFD Office Hours
Every week BlueCare's WFD team will be available to answer your workforce development questions and offer resources and tools for your staffing needs. At your convenience, join one of these meetings on Thursdays at 9:00am CT/10:00am ET.
3
Quarterly WFD Trainings
Every quarter, the MCO's collaborate to host workforce development trainings for provider agencies. Each training is focused on a specific workforce development topic or resource, such as recruitment, retention, training, and more.