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The
Frank Mulhern Scholarship
These two $500 scholarships will be awarded at the Mid-Hudson Coalition for the Development of Direct Care Practice annual conferences.
Scholarship Description
The main goal of the Mid-Hudson Coalition for the Development of Direct Care Practice (MHC) is to improve quality care for people with special needs through the education and advancement of front-line workers, Direct Support Professionals (DSP). One way that this is achieved is by offering educational scholarships to DSPs to support their efforts toward higher education and professional growth. A number of DSPs have taken on the daunting task of pursuing college degrees and certificates, while working in high demand frontline jobs, in order to improve their skills and credentials within the field of human service.
Another means toward this end is through the active involvement of DSPs themselves in organizations such as the MHC, the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals, and the JFK Jr. Institute for Worker Education. Many workers have volunteered their time to advocate for these organized efforts through committee work, conference workshops, public forums, publications and newsletter writing, policy campaigns and other leadership activities.
The Frank Mulhern Scholarship will be used to acknowledge and reward such individuals who engage themselves in their own professional growth and education and who dedicate their time and energy to helping others within the field through active community and organizational work.
Scholarship Criteria
Category 1:
For MHC members who are DSPs pursuing a college degree at MHC approved human services degree and certificate college programs (Dutchess Community College, Columbia-Greene Community College, Rockland Community College, Sullivan County Community College, SUNY New Paltz , SUNY Orange, Ulster Community College, and Westchester Community College).
For MHC members who are DSPs advancing their skills through professional training and certificate programs, e.g., completion of the Family Development Certificate, CASAC
credentialing, Youth Development certificates, Apprentice-Journey Worker Program, the MHC Fellowship Program, and Home Health Aide credentialing. Many DSPs who already have their
college degree and are still attending courses and trainings to advance their knowledge and skills on behalf of themselves and the people that they serve, should be considered eligible for this
award.
Category 2:
For MHC members who are DSPs actively involved in volunteer work relevant to the MHC mission as committee members, activity organizers, campaign leaders or participants and advocates for other workers and the people that they support.
For MHC members who as DSPs take on leadership roles for the advancement of human service and direct support professionals.
Applicants for this category are the front-line organizers who contribute to successful conferences, important newsletters and other publications, survey work, organizational
promotion and recruitment and keeping organizations like the MHC moving ahead. For many years the MHC has counted on numerous volunteers who give without asking for
anything in return and without whom the MHC, and other similar organizations, could
succeed.
Scholarship Selection Process
For category 1 scholarships: Applicants must provide endorsement from the college or
training programs, i.e., a recommendation from a faculty member, who can speak to the
applicant’s commitment to education. A transcript from the college or a document from the
training program must be submitted to show that the applicant is in good standing.
For category 2 scholarships: Applicants must submit supporting material demonstrating
community or organizational commitment as described in category 2.
For both scholarships, a personal bio or resume and a letter of support from the agency
supervisor or director must be included. An essay (app. 2 typed pages) demonstrating the
applicant’s commitment to education (category 1) or contributions to the human services
field (category 2) must also be included.
Deadline for application is
June 1st
of the given year.
Click
here to download a copy of the above guidelines.
Click
here for an application!
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