An Innovative Program for High School Students that is Creating Future

Direct Support Professionals

 

Are you looking for a way to create future Direct Support Professionals?   Have you heard about OPRA’s Community Connections Career Partnership – Ohio program? 

 

C3P(O) combines the nationally-recognized, award-winning DSPaths curriculum and an internship with a local provider of services to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to give high school students the ability to earn valuable industry credentialswhile working toward their high school diploma.  Upon graduation, students are encouraged to apply for in-demand jobs with local providers of services to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

 

The first C3P(O) program started at Franklin Heights High School in the South-Western City School District in Columbus, Ohio during the 2015-16 school year with twelve students who were in their junior year of high school.  While working on the coursework, students also participated in a four-day per week internship with area providers who serve a diverse population, ensuring a well-rounded career experience.  All twelve students completed the program and were awarded the Certificate of Initial Proficiencyduring a ceremony in June, 2016.  Ten of those students returned to the program for their senior year and all ten, in addition to earning the Certificate of Advanced Proficiency, received their high school diploma in May, 2017. 

 

Since then, students from the following school districts have also been a part of the C3P(O) program:   Medina City Schools; Rushmore Academy; Marion City School District; Clermont Northeastern School District;  and Vanguard-Sentinel Career and Technology Centers.

 

Students spend three hours one day a week in a classroom setting, learning one of 20 modules in the curriculum.  The other four days of the week, for three hours each day, the students intern at with a local provider to gain hands-on experience.

 

 

In the first three years of the program:

 

• The Ohio Department of Education added the Certificate of Initial Proficiency (CIP) and the Certificate of Advanced Proficiency (CAP) to the “Industry-Recognized Credentials” list
• 65 Certificates of Initial Proficiency and 23 Certificates of Advanced Proficiency were awarded by the Ohio Alliance of Direct Support Professionals

• 87% of students who initially enrolled in C3P(O) completed the program and received their credential
• 100% of the seniors  who completed  the program have received their high school diplomas
•  Thirty percent of graduates are currently working in the field of developmental disabilities

 

During the 2018-19 School Year:

 

• There are currently 40 students participating in the program
• The C3P(O) program received the national Moving Mountains Award for Best Practices
• Created the first “Seniors Only” C3P(O) program at Vanguard-Sentinel Career and Technology Centers
• C3P(O) was featured in the University of Minnesota’s Institute on Community Integration’s Winter/Spring 2018 newsletter publication Impact highlighting strategies and research on the direct support workforce
• The program was highlighted in the US President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities 2017 Report to the President titled America’s Direct Support Workforce Crisis: Effects on People, Communities, and the US Economy

 

We would love to start at C3P(O) program in your area!

 

Contact Janice Hall at jhall@opra.org or by calling 740-432-2921 or 740-260-7278 to learn more.  You can also find more information by visiting http://www.opra.org/workforce-initiatives/c3po/

 

Sincerely,

 

   Anita Allen                                                        Bethany Toledo                                                  Janice Hall

Interim President                                               Executive Director                              Special Projects Manager

                                                                                                          

What People are Saying about C3P(O)

 

“This program has been one of the best things I have ever been a part of in my 20 years in education.”   – Dr. Kristine Quallich, Assistant Superintendent, Medina City School District, Medina, OH

 

“This program has had a huge impact on my students’ grades and school engagement.  I see it every day.” – Drew Huber, CBI Teacher, Franklin Heights High School, Columbus, OH

 

“I am beyond happy that I decided to join this program.”- Hailey Pacifico, Student, Medina High School, Medina, OH

 

“This thoughtfully planned and implemented system change effort is truly impressive.” – Mark Olsen, Project Coordinator at RTC at the University of Minnesota and Joseph MacBeth, Executive Director of NADSP in announcing the national Moving Mountains Award to the C3P(O) Program