People Inc.

BUFFALO, N.Y., April 8, 2005: Seven direct care staff of People Inc. are getting a second chance towards their education thanks to the Disability Studies Certificate Program through the New York State Association of Community and Residential Agencies (NYSACRA). The program was started when the NYSACRA received a Workforce Re-Training Initiative grant from the New York State Department of Health to attempt to deal with the challenge across New York State of not having enough quality direct care staff to the meet the needs of the people served by human service agencies.

The Disability Studies Certificate Program is a customized five-course college training. Participants are required to take a non-credit preparatory “Bridge Course” and then move through a series of four college courses at any community college in the field of disability studies. The program is geared towards direct care staff and first line managers who have their high school diploma or GED, work directly with people who have developmental disabilities, currently work as an employee of a NYSACRA member agency, live as a resident of New York State, have the desire to develop skills and confidence as a direct support worker and wish to continue or begin their college career.

People Inc. is one of thirty-five participating human service agencies in New York State who have employees enrolled in this program. At the end of the grant’s term, NYSACRA will have provided a Disability Studies Certificate to more than two hundred direct support workers in upstate New York.

According to Director of Member Services for NYSACRA Joe Macbeth, “This Certificate Program is a great opportunity for New York’s direct support workforce to start, or in many cases after several years re-start their college careers. Among other workforce initiatives that include advocating for wages that are commensurate with the responsibilities of the job, access to more affordable health insurance and various recognition programs, NYSACRA is committed to creating a career ladder for the direct support workers that includes secondary education. The Disability Studies Certificate is a nice start in that direction and we hope to do more in the future.”

Each program offers an overview of key concepts and issues in the fields of developmental disabilities, psychology and human development across the lifespan. The required “Bridge Course” is a special topic forty-five hour developmental reading and writing class, designed to prepare working adult students for college-level work. NYSACRA believes that the strength and core of human services rest with a well trained and educated direct support workforce.

People Inc. employees who are participating in the Disability Studies Certificate Program include: Darci Beck, resident of Collins; Valarie Burns, resident of Lakeview; Kelly Hawkins, resident of Buffalo; Cindy Herniman, resident of Silver Creek; Cara Hilbig, resident of Niagara Falls; Ginny Scanlon, resident of Blasdell; and Megan Shaver, resident of Cheektowaga. People Inc. will reimburse their employees for the cost of their college books.

Benefits for the participants include: opportunities for career development; a chance to learn and practice new skills; improvement in job performance by gaining a deeper understanding of specific challenges faced by the people they serve; and a move closer towards completing a college degree. The Disability Studies Certificate Program allows doors to open for employees who have had past credits towards college or could not attend college due to financial difficulties or family obligations. Through this program, NYSACRA will pay the employee’s tuition for courses at their local community college.

For someone who has not been to college, the awards are great. “I have never been to college and I have some interests in certain courses,” said Ginny Scanlon, a day aide and team leader for one of People Inc.’s group homes in Hamburg. An employee of People Inc. for six years, Scanlon happily said, “This is what I am to do with my life and I want to get better at it. I’ve learned a lot already. The Bridge Course instructor is very helpful and does not pressure us. The only pressure I have is what I put on myself. Everyone in the class is very helpful; you can say you don’t understand something and it is okay.” At age 47, Scanlon is interested in pursuing courses in sign language and psychology pertaining to the developmental disabilities field.

According to People Inc. President and Chief Executive Officer James M. Boles, Ed.D., another benefit of the program is retention of employees. “By offering our employees this opportunity to participate in, we see that they are committed to the people we serve,” remarks Dr. Boles. “Our employees can climb the career ladder and be a mentor to other staff, as well as be an advocate for human service agencies and their services. People Inc. is pleased to be a member of the New York State Association of Community and Residential Agencies and we value their partnership.”

The New York State Association of Community and Residential Agencies acts as a resource to provide services, advocacy, information, technical assistance, education and collaboration and networking experiences to its members. The organization promotes a viable service environment that offers quality community living opportunities and supports to people with developmental disabilities and their families. The New York State Association of Community and Residential Agencies is a grassroots organization comprised of 200 voluntary agencies which provide services to people with developmental disabilities.

People Inc. is a not for profit human service agency providing programs and services to more than 10,000 people with special needs, their families and seniors and throughout Western New York. Since 1971, People Inc. has assisted individuals to achieve greater degrees of independence and productivity.

Nicole Passantino
Marketing and Communications Manager
Direct Dial: (716) 817-7469
Cellular: (716) 440-5161