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Contact:
Cassie Smith
662-562-0100, ext. 1-231
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3297 Highway 51 South
P.O. Box 97, Senatobia, MS 38668
Employees recognized for making a difference
Senatobia, Miss., October 1, 2009 - The Baddour Center grabbed the opportunity to give much-deserved recognition to a group of employees when the U.S. Senate declared the week of September 13th National Direct Support Professionals (DSP) Recognition Week.
The general job description for DSPs are people who work directly with individuals who have an intellectual or developmental disability with the aim of integrating those individuals into society in the least restrictive environment. Twenty-eight DSPs work in Senatobia at The Baddour Center and abide by a Code of Ethics, which addresses topics such as confidentiality, respect, and equity for the individuals they support.
For a Baddour DSP, the typical day begins at 5 a.m. each of the seven days of her shift. Although tasks are rarely the same on any of those days, their primary role is teaching. They supervise residents, too, but most often they teach social skills and independent living skills.
“Because of the consistent interaction with residents during their lengthy shifts, DSPs have one of the most important positions at The Baddour Center,” said Donna Thompson, Manager of Residential Services for The Baddour Center. “They teach and encourage residents so that they are enabled to grow in every aspect of life that The Center’s mission statement addresses.”
Despite their day-to-day challenges, DSPs for The Baddour Center enjoy their job. For Betty Levingston, who works as a DSP at The Center, the sense of community has an irreplaceable appeal. In response to a question about her favorite aspect of working at The Baddour Center, Betty replied, “The people! They’re my family!”
Through the Education & Research Division of The Center, DSPs have the opportunity to learn more about their roles. They also expand their knowledge through the College of Direct Support (CDS), an internet-based training curriculum that includes 76 lessons which infuses values and skill standards to DSPs and their supervisors as they support people in community-based settings.
DSPs are required to complete CDS within one year of employment, according to Thompson, and 13 have already done so, including four who have taken elective courses in addition to the required lessons. Through grant funding from the Mississippi Developmental Disabilities Council, which is dispersed through the ARC of Mississippi, CDS is free for Baddour DSPs.
During the recognition week, DSPs received cards from co-workers expressing how they make a difference in the lives of others, which was the week’s theme. In addition, employees and residents also joined together for a mid-week recognition event to honor the DSPs.
“Although many of the DSPs’ duties are completed ‘behind the scenes,’ their job success is evident through residents’ growth and development. We cannot say ‘thanks’ enough for all they do here,” said Thompson. “DSP Recognition Week gives us the chance to tell them ‘you’re doing a great job!’”
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