Direct Support Professional Panel at 2016 INARF Annual Conference

-Article contributed by Michael Dickman, DSPIN Board member

During the 2016 INARF Annual Conference in Indianapolis, over eighty people signed up to attend “Attracting and Retaining DSP Talent”, a panel of Direct Support Professionals providing insight to their experiences in the field. The concept for the panel discussion originated with the Direct Support Professionals of Indiana (DSPIN) Board. The panel included DSPIN Board Members Michael Dickman with Bethesda Lutheran Communities, Jennifer Patrick and Kellie Shidler with Passages, Inc., in addition to Mercede Gonzalez with ADEC. 

Brenda Falcone, moderator of the panel and DSPIN Board Member, read questions previously submitted by the audience and engaged attendees to participate in the discussion. Many topics were covered including effective time and amount of training, cell phone policies, benefit programs, and peer mentoring programs. 

The panel discussion was a reminder that even though our jobs may be mostly isolated, all of the attendees in the room are a part of the same team. Managers, DSPs, nurses, directors, and team members; we all need to support and rally around one another. 

You can continue the conversation with the DSPIN Board Members and other DSPs in Indiana through our Facebook group or check out our NEW twitter @onlyDSPIN. ​