New Jersey Statutes 18A:64A-83. Direct Support Professional Career Development Program established; purpose, duties
Terms Used In New Jersey Statutes 18A:64A-83
- County college: means an educational institution established or to be established by one or more counties, offering programs of instruction, extending not more than two years beyond the high school, which may include but need not be limited to specialized or comprehensive curriculums, including college credit transfer courses, terminal courses in the liberal arts and sciences, and technical institute type programs. See New Jersey Statutes 18A:64A-1
- Department: means the State Department of Education. See New Jersey Statutes 18A:1-1
- Employment: includes employment in a position. See New Jersey Statutes 18A:1-1
- Higher education: means that education which is provided by any or all of the public institutions of higher education as herein defined and any or all equivalent private institutions. See New Jersey Statutes 18A:1-1
- Partnership: A voluntary contract between two or more persons to pool some or all of their assets into a business, with the agreement that there will be a proportional sharing of profits and losses.
- State: extends to and includes any State, territory or possession of the United States, the District of Columbia and the Canal Zone. See New Jersey Statutes 1:1-2
The program shall be guided by an advisory council that includes representatives from target school districts, county colleges, and One-Stop Career Centers, and representatives from each of the following stakeholder groups: people with disabilities, family members of people with disabilities, direct support professionals, frontline supervisors, and service provider leadership. The advisory council shall work in partnership with the Division of Developmental Disabilities in the Department of Human Services and the Boggs Center on Developmental Disabilities, Rutgers, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.
The Secretary of Higher Education, in consultation with the President of the New Jersey Council of County Colleges, shall appoint the members of the advisory council. Members of the advisory council shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for their actual and necessary expenses.
It shall be the purpose of the program to provide a potential career path to individuals interested in human services and allied health career fields in addition to existing direct support professionals, thereby assisting with recruitment and retention of this critical workforce.
The program, through partnerships with local school districts, county colleges, and One-Stop Career Centers, shall identify and recruit individuals who are interested in learning about and serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The program shall provide participating students with a one-year fellowship program that offers mentorship and training regarding the responsibilities of direct support professionals and a potential job opportunity upon graduation. The program shall provide online training in addition to on-site training and mentorship with experienced direct support professionals employed by collaborating agencies that serve individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
In addition to students, the Direct Support Professional Career Development Program shall work with existing and potential direct support professionals to identify their educational goals including credentialing, an associate’s degree, and a bachelor’s degree.
The Direct Support Professional Career Development Program shall collaborate with local One-Stop Career Centers to provide opportunities for unemployed and underemployed workers to receive training to pursue employment in the field of Direct Support.
L.2021, c.421, s.2.