United Helpers Hosting Open Interviews First, Last Wednesday Each Month

OGDENSBURG – United Helpers Behavioral Health and Life Skills is hosting open interviews on the first and last Wednesday of each month for those interested in working as Direct Support Professionals (DSPs).

 

Bi-monthly open interviews will begin on Wednesday, September 29 from 1-3 p.m. The following week on Wednesday, October 6 open interviews will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. Open interviews will always be from 1 to 3 p.m. on the final Wednesday and from 9 to 11 a.m. on the first Wednesday of each month. 

Interviews will take place at the Behavioral Health and Life Skills complex, 100 Ford Street in Ogdensburg.

Earlier this summer staff and residents from the Centennial IRA in Ogdensburg attended a Luke Bryan concert in Syracuse.  

The primary role of a DSP is to promote skills development and act as a role model to those with developmental disabilities residing in one of United Helpers 11 Individualized Residential Alternatives (IRAs). DSPs also inspire involvement and participation in recreational, community and/or social activities.

“Direct support professionals are the backbone of our IRAs,” said United Helpers Director of Residential Services Colleen S. Aldridge. “A good DSP serves as a friend and mentor, as well as a caregiver to the people residing in the house where they work.”

A typical day for a DSP may include assistance with personal care, interactions and daily activities such as travel to medical appointments, attendance at religious services, concerts, sporting, or other community events.

The starting salary for DSPs is $15 per hour, however, for those working evening and midnight shifts, a shift differential is available, bringing the wage up to $16 and $16.50 per hour.

 

While vacancies exist across the county, the greatest area of need is currently in the Rensselaer Falls and Potsdam areas.

 

United Helpers operates IRAs in Ogdensburg, Heuvelton, Lisbon, Morristown, Rensselaer Falls, Potsdam, and Norwood.

Earlier this summer staff and residents from the Centennial IRA in Ogdensburg attended a Luke Bryan concert in Syracuse. From left, clearly enjoying the show, Crystal Osborne and Direct Support Professional Tapanga Gotham, who also works in the United Helpers Human Resources Department. Other outings enjoyed by DSPs include fishing trips, movies, fairs, parades, amusement parks, and more. 

Matthie Celebrates Success of DSP Apprenticeship Program, Recruiting New Apprentices Now

CANTON – Like a proud father, Jason Matthie took to the stage at a recent graduation ceremony held for United Helpers’ first class of Direct Support Professional (DSP) Apprenticeship program graduates.

He wasn’t a graduate, rather Mr. Matthie, who serves as United Helpers Behavioral Health and Life Skills QA-CQI Coordinator, and has worked with the developmentally disabled for more than 20 years, was celebrating the success of a program he helped create.

He said the apprenticeship program, which was created in collaboration with the administrative team at United Helpers Behavioral Health and Life Skills, St. Lawrence-Lewis BOCES, and the New York State Department of Labor, was designed to create a career path for people working as DSPs. 

Jason Matthie

 “I’ve always wanted people who work as DSPs to be able to do this as a career and have a clear career ladder,” Mr. Matthie said. “I feel this helps us accomplish this and I’m immensely proud of this program.”

“Jason had a vision for this program and was able to bring that to fruition,” said United Helpers CEO Stephen E. Knight. “He says he’s proud of this program and he should be. The development of these apprentices has been remarkable, and would not have been possible if it weren’t for the efforts of Jason and everyone involved with this program.”

One of the program’s students has already been promoted and is now working as a Habilitation Coordinator.

Mr. Matthie is now recruiting for the next class of DSP apprentices.

“You do not have to be a DSP now to enroll in the program, but by doing so, you would become a DSP,” he explained, adding that DSPs work with individuals who have developmental disabilities.

A typical day for a Direct Support Professional or DSP may include providing personal care: feeding, showering bathing, grooming, nail care, changing clothes, assisting with ambulation, etc. DSPs may also attend medical appointments and participate in outings or field trips.

If you enjoy working with and helping people and working as part of a residential care team, this may be a good entry-level career path for you, he said.

For those who are already DSPs, United Helpers cover the entire cost of tuition. If you’re not already a DSP, Mr. Matthie said you would take a short introductory course at your own expense. Following the completion of that course, you would go through the United Helpers hiring process. If hired, you would become a DSP, and United Helpers would pay for the remainder of the program.

Aside from the benefits of furthering your education, Mr. Matthie said the program also offers several other benefits, including being paid for the time you’re in class, mileage for the commute back and forth to class, periodic incentive bonuses, and a $2 per hour raise that comes at the completion of the program.

“This program isn’t just a United Helpers thing either,” he said, noting the apprentices will each receive a journeyman’s card that is recognized anywhere in the U.S.

“Once students complete the program, they’re not only in a position to empower themselves, but they can mentor other DSPs, and better advocate for the people we serve,” he said. “We are now supporting people with a much greater variety of needs, many of whom are able to self-advocate. The skills learned in this program are things that they can apply to their job right away.”

Edwin “Ed” Fisher recently completed the program and agreed.

“This program raised our level of awareness to not only help our residents, but also fellow staff members,” he said.  “By taking up this challenge, we pushed ourselves to step out of our comfort zones which built up our confidence in our abilities to do the job and step up and meet the challenge of being a journeyman DSP.”

Challenge is a good word to describe the program, because Mr. Matthie warned it will not be easy, but that’s by design, he said.

“This class is designed to be taught at a junior college level,” Mr. Matthie said, adding though that as long as students remain dedicated to the program, there are supports in place to help them get through it.

“BOCES has been very supportive of our students, some of whom struggled in school, or maybe even had a learning disability,” he said. “If people remain committed to the program and they work through it, they will succeed. The program is designed to be challenging, but it’s not meant to be exclusive.”

Patrick Flagg also graduated from the program, and he said the support received from St. Lawrence-Lewis BOCES Adult Education Coordinator Alex Pacific, who led the classroom portion of the program, Mr. Matthie, and his other classmates helped him make it to graduation.

“Everyone helps everyone,” Mr. Flagg said. “We really became kind of a family as we worked our way towards graduation.”

Mr. Fisher and Mr. Flagg were joined in the class by six others including, Patricia “Trish” Amo from the Centennial IRA in Ogdensburg, Jason Cameron and Jamie Fields from the Kendrew IRA in Rensselaer Falls, John Gammon and Victoria Dewey, from the Flackville IRA in Heuvelton, and Deborah “Deb” Smith from the Lisbon IRA.

Applications for the program are available now by contacting your program leader, Mr. Matthie, or any member of the staff development office. Applications are due in January with a new class slated to begin in February.

Mr. Matthie may be reached via email at jrmatthie@unitedhelpers.org. Mr. Matthie or another member of the staff development office may also be reached via telephone at (315) 394-6702.

Spies Award Winners Honored

 

OGDENSBURG – As an organization, United Helpers employs well over 1,000 people. Each year, three of them are recognized as winners of the Margaret R. Spies Award.

“The award is only given to three employees, out of more than 1,000,” said United Helpers CEO Stephen E. Knight during a zoom meeting where the awards were presented. “It’s safe to say we’re recognizing the best of the best.”

“The best of the best” is also a phrase often used by Ann Spies to describe her mother, Margaret, for whom the award is named. Ms. Spies created the honor in memory of Margaret, a one-time resident of what is now United Helpers Rehabilitation and Senior Care in Ogdensburg, as a way to honor and recognize direct care staff, such as those who cared for her mom.

This year’s awards went to Amber Evans, a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) in Ogdensburg, Crystal Klimowicz, a CNA in Canton, and Sherry Friot, a Direct Support Professional (DSP) from the Lisbon IRA, each of whom were nominated by their peers for the honor.

Timothy Parsons, who serves as Vice President of Operations in Ogdensburg where Ms. Evans works, said he was pleased to see her selected for the honor. 

Timothy Parsons, Amber Evans, & Marie Woods

"I am so happy for Amber,” he said. “She has been nominated several times by her co-workers over the past few years indicating that she is clearly one of our best CNAs.”

Mr. Parsons also had no shortage of stories to share when citing examples of things that make Ms. Evans a great CNA, but perhaps the most telling example wasn’t even included in her nomination packet.

“While we were accepting nominations, I received an unsolicited phone call from the daughter of a resident who had recently passed away,” Mr. Parsons said. “They wanted to make me aware of how special Amber was and what she meant to the resident and their family. They told me that their mother was so close with Amber that on more than one occasion she called Amber by her daughter’s name.”

The fact that Ms. Klimowicz was selected as Canton’s recipient is something that came as a surprise to no one, said Canton’s Vice President of Operations Kimberly Blair, who recalled a conversation with Ms. Klimowicz’s immediate supervisor. 

Kimberly Blair, Crystal Klimowicz, & Jessica Barr

“I spoke with her supervisor yesterday and she said that even before Crystal was a CNA, when she was working as a task aide, she knew she was going to shine,” Mrs. Blair recalled.

Citing another example, Mrs. Blair reflected on Ms. Klimowicz’s work as a mentor to other CNAs even before she was officially a part of the building’s mentoring program.

“She has helped us train new employees without being recognized or compensated for many weeks until she was able to attend mentor training,” Mrs. Blair said, reading from a nomination submitted by Robin L. Leonard, who oversees the building’s mentoring program.

Ms. Friot is one of the most impressive DSPs that her Program Leader Brady Dullea says he’s ever seen. 

Brady Dullea, Sherry Friot, & Michele Montroy

“In all my time working with OPWDD (Office for People with Developmental Disabilities) programs, I have never met anyone with all the abilities she has,” Mr. Dullea said. “There is no one who better embodies, ‘Always Caring.’ She never has an off day.”

Mr. Dullea said the opportunity has even arisen several times for Ms. Friot to be promoted to a supervisory position, but each time she politely declines, noting she doesn’t want to give up the level of involvement with direct care she enjoys now.

“Despite declining leadership positions, Sherry has never shied away from taking control when times get tough,” he said. “She has successfully handled many difficult situations, not because she wants to step up and take charge, but because she wants the best outcomes for the people living and working in the house.”

Each year since 2001 the Margaret R. Spies Awards has been presented to three employees — one each from United Helpers Rehabilitation & Senior Care in Ogdensburg, United Helpers Rehabilitation & Senior Care in Canton and United Helpers Behavioral Health & Life Skills — who embody the most desirable qualities in direct care staff: dedication to the people they care for and a willingness to go above and beyond expectations.  Nominations for the honor come from fellow United Helpers employees.

A plaque that lists the names of all the Spies Awards recipients hangs at United Helpers Rehabilitation & Senior Care in Ogdensburg.

To view video from this year's presentation, which was held via Zoom, please visit... https://zoom.us/rec/play/vcYkf-2op2g3SdSQ5ASDC6N9W426LqOs0XIa_6IEmEnhVXEGYVGhZ7sUZ-K_dKg4KszXBiA1Sk1tiOJG?startTime=1597165386000

Walmart Grant Supports DSP Apprenticeship Program

     OGDENSBURG - Recently, United Helpers’ Vice President of Operations for Mosaic, Michele Montroy, met with the Ogdensburg Walmart Store Manager, Steven Simpson, to thank Walmart for the grant that UH was chosen to receive as part of the Ogdensburg store’s 2018 community grants program. 

The United Helpers initiative that the Walmart grant supports is United Helpers’ apprenticeship program, which provides Direct Support Professionals (DSPs), with paid classroom and on-the-job training as well as professional growth opportunities within United Helpers’ Mosaic division. Mosaic serves clients and residents with developmental and intellectual disabilities, and traumatic brain injuries.

The apprenticeship program at United Helpers began in 2018 and is certified by the Department of Labor. Recently, a Department of Labor representative visited and spoke individually with each student in the United Helpers program, noting that it is the only program of its type in the region that he oversees. The Department of Labor is impressed that such a new program is running so well already.

DSP Apprentice Students Celebrate Completion of First Semester

OGDENSBURG – Following the completion of their first semester several members of the inaugural class of DSP Apprentices met with members of United Helpers Mosaic’s advisory board to discuss their experience thus far.

Apprentices Deb Smith, Victoria Dewey and Patrick Flagg

Ed Fisher, Patricia Amo, Jason Cameron, John Gammon, Deb Smith, Victoria Dewey and Patrick Flagg each attended the meeting speaking about the challenges they’ve faced as part of the program, but also about newfound confidence, increased work skills and a new desire to better themselves and move up the career ladder at United Helpers. 

“When I started the class I didn’t have the self-esteem or confidence to talk in front of people,” Mr. Cameron said. “Now I’m looking into college programs to get my Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services. I now have the confidence to know I can do this.”

The class includes a mix of relatively new Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) and experienced DSPs, but regardless of how long they have been with the company prior to enrolling in the program, participants say they’re seeing the benefits.

Mr. Fisher, who has been a DSP for nearly 30 years said, “The way we’re looking at the people we’re taking care of now is from a totally different point of view and that’s because we’re utilizing what we’ve learned in this program.”

Mr. Gammon agreed. “Even after one semester of this program the level of care our residents is going to receive has been elevated.”

Apprentices Jason Cameron and John Gammon with CEO Steve Knight

The program is a combination of classroom work and on-the-job training spread out over four semesters in years. At the conclusion of the program each apprentice will earn their Journeyman’s card.

Mosaic Vice President of Operations Michele Montroy said she can remember speaking with some of the apprentices right after the program began.

“I remember speaking to some of you after the first day of class,” she said. “You’re success hasn’t come without challenges, but I’m glad you have all stuck with it.”

In addition to crediting Mrs. Montroy, as well as their fellow classmates for supporting each other through the program, Program Instructor Alex Pacific also received praise from the apprentices.

Apprentices Ed Fisher and Patricia Amo

“If it wasn’t for Alex, I don’t think we would all still be here,” Ms. Dewey said, to which Ms. Amo added, “He was very willing to work with us to get us where we needed to be.”

United Helpers Mosaic Staff Development Director Jason Matthie said the program is designed to be a challenge.

“This isn’t an easy program. These people have had to push through some fears and anxiety. A lot of them are going back to school for the first time in a long time,” he said. “We wanted this to be challenging, but not so difficult that someone who was putting forth an honest effort couldn’t succeed. Innovation doesn’t come from doing the same thing over and over again. It comes from overcoming whatever challenges are put in front of you.”

In addition to classroom work and on-site training, the apprentices must complete homework assignments and study for exams, all of which are graded. Each exam includes 100 multiple choice questions, as well as five essay questions.

“That first exam was rough, but we all got through it,” Mrs. Smith said. “I’m looking forward to seeing what the future has to bring.”

Sometimes classroom days even include guest speakers.

“Alex has brought in people from other companies to offer their perspectives to us and I think we’ve all gotten a lot from the speakers,” Mr. Flagg said.

Mosaic Advisory Board member William Nelson said he was thoroughly impressed with what he heard during the presentation.

“The way you guys have presented this to us is very inspirational,” he said. “One of the things we are all very aware of is how health care is changing. By participating in this program you are all becoming the agents of that change.”

United Helpers Teams With BOCES & Labor Dept. to Launch Apprenticeship Program for DSPs

CANTON – At the same time students are returning to schools across the North Country, a group of 15 Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) employed by United Helpers Mosaic are returning to the classroom to participate in the state’s first apprenticeship program for DSPs.

The program, which was launched as a collaboration between United Helpers Mosaic, St. Lawrence-Lewis BOCES and the New York State Department of Labor includes 144 hours of classroom instruction and between 3,000 and 4,000 hours of on the job training broken into several categories, which relate to the profession. 

Classroom instruction will be led by BOCES, while the Labor Department will oversee job training and monitor each employee’s training log.

“I’ve always wanted people who work as DSPs to be able to do this as a career and have a clear career ladder,” said United Helpers Mosaic Staff Development Director Jason Matthie. “I feel this helps us accomplish this and I’m immensely proud of this program.”

Department of Labor Apprentice Training Representative Nick Gratch oversees 100 apprenticeship programs across the Northern Region of the state.

“Historically apprenticeships have been associated with manufacturing or construction, but now we’re delving more into health care and other fields,” he said.

The benefits of an apprenticeship in any field are clear, he said, paid on the job training and experience that will prepare you for a career and not just a job.

“At the end of this program you could be a DSP anywhere in the country and a really good one,” Mr. Gratch said, adding the number of people graduating from this program each year will create a “pipeline” for people in leadership positions.

“For United Helpers this program provides us the satisfaction of being able to offer more opportunities for our employees,” Mr. Matthie said.

The employees though, won’t be the only ones who benefit, Mr. Matthie said.

“It is universally understood that a more professional, highly trained workforce equates to better satisfaction with services and quality of life for those people who receive services from Mosaic,” he said.

United Helpers employs roughly 225 DSPs who provide care and assistance for individuals with developmental disabilities in St. Lawrence County.

For more information on how you could become a DSP, please call (315) 393-3074 or visit www.unitedhelpers.org/employment. For information specific to the apprenticeship program, please contact Mr. Matthie at jrmatthie@unitedhelpers.org.