Moving Mountains Award Presented to Mid-Hudson Coalition
Amy Hewitt of the University of Minnesota is shown in the photo above with Board Member Regis Obijiski who accepted the award on behalf of the MHC.
The Moving Mountains Awards are presented to organizations and agencies that have demonstrated best practice in direct support workforce development. They are awarded by the Research and Training Center on Community Living (RTC/CL) at the University of Minnesota in partnership with the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP). Nominations are solicited through NADSP member organizations and submissions are reviewed by a panel of NADSP members. Selection criteria are based on the mission and five goals of the NADSP:
Mission:
To promote the development of a highly competent human services workforce which supports individuals in achieving their life goals.
Goals:
1. Enhance the status of direct support professionals.
2. Provide better access for all direct support professionals to high quality educational experiences (e.g., in-service training, continuing and higher education) and lifelong learning which enhances competency.
3. Strengthening the working relationships and partnerships between direct support professionals, self advocates, and other consumer groups and families.
4. Promote systems reform which provides incentives for educational experiences, increased compensation, and access to career pathways for direct support professionals through the promotion of policy initiatives (e.g., legislation, funding, practices). Support the development and implementation of a national volunteer credentialing process for direct support professionals.
According to the award committee, the MHC was specifically selected because “this organization has proven that through commitment, collaboration and a common mission, direct support professionals can and will become better educated and more committed to the field of community human services work.
“Organizational members within the Mid-Hudson Coalition have remarkably low annual turnover rates of direct support staff when compared to other organizations in the region and state. Their leaders are committed to improving the working conditions and public image of direct support employees. Most have found ways to build career paths within their organizations and to pay competitive wages to their employees.”
Amy Hewitt of the University of Minnesota is shown in the photo above with Board Member Regis Obijiski who accepted the award on behalf of the MHC.
The Moving Mountains Awards are presented to organizations and agencies that have demonstrated best practice in direct support workforce development. They are awarded by the Research and Training Center on Community Living (RTC/CL) at the University of Minnesota in partnership with the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP). Nominations are solicited through NADSP member organizations and submissions are reviewed by a panel of NADSP members. Selection criteria are based on the mission and five goals of the NADSP:
Mission:
To promote the development of a highly competent human services workforce which supports individuals in achieving their life goals.
Goals:
1. Enhance the status of direct support professionals.
2. Provide better access for all direct support professionals to high quality educational experiences (e.g., in-service training, continuing and higher education) and lifelong learning which enhances competency.
3. Strengthening the working relationships and partnerships between direct support professionals, self advocates, and other consumer groups and families.
4. Promote systems reform which provides incentives for educational experiences, increased compensation, and access to career pathways for direct support professionals through the promotion of policy initiatives (e.g., legislation, funding, practices). Support the development and implementation of a national volunteer credentialing process for direct support professionals.
According to the award committee, the MHC was specifically selected because “this organization has proven that through commitment, collaboration and a common mission, direct support professionals can and will become better educated and more committed to the field of community human services work.
“Organizational members within the Mid-Hudson Coalition have remarkably low annual turnover rates of direct support staff when compared to other organizations in the region and state. Their leaders are committed to improving the working conditions and public image of direct support employees. Most have found ways to build career paths within their organizations and to pay competitive wages to their employees.”
