Van Boyd and the newest resident of Johnstone Court group home, Tina

MV Advancements has some exciting news. We are beginning a partnership with Chemeketa Community College and Katie McMahon, MVA’s Day Support Activities Manager, will serve on the Advisory Committee for their new Behavioral Studies Program. This new partnership is the first step in a long journey to professionalize the role of a Direct Support Professional (DSP) and it offers a unique opportunity for MVA to guide the future of the profession.

“Outside of the industry, [DSP] is seen as an entry-level position,” McMahon said. “When in reality, anyone within the industry would tell you it deserves to be recognized as a professional role.”

Chemeketa’s new Behavioral Studies Program will allow students to specialize in becoming a DSP. This will raise awareness and recognition of the role and result in better-trained professionals who are better suited to empower everyone they support to live their best lives.

The new program will update the Human Services program, which has been offered at Chemeketa for decades. It will remain a two-year program resulting in an associate degree, but the curriculum will receive an overhaul to emphasize hands-on learning.

Students will be required to participate in two semesters of internship hours when they initially enroll in the program, then an additional two semesters once they choose a specialization. MVA’s Residential Program, Day Support Activities Program, Employment Program, and Supported Living Program are all proposed practicum sites for the internship.

When students are placed with MVA for an internship, they will learn from our staff in all program areas about how to support people using a person-centered approach and how to empower them to live their best lives. We are excited to be part of educating the next generation of professionals who dedicate their lives to supporting adults who experience a disability.

The required internship hours will also increase the exposure of this field to younger generations. Van Boyd, longtime DSP at MVA’s Johnstone Court group home, thinks this is crucial to the longevity of the industry.

Boyd started his career as a CNA at a nursing home, and it wasn’t until he took a job at Fairview in Salem that he was exposed to people who experience disabilities. He said that he only took the job at the time because it paid more. However, when he began interacting with the individuals at Fairview every day, he quickly became passionate about supporting them.

Boyd started at Fairview in 1987 and hasn’t looked back since. Now, he is the premier example of a successful DSP, and Johnstone Court wouldn’t be the same without him. He has truly found his passion in the DSP field and couldn’t imagine doing anything else.

Much like Boyd when he worked as a CNA, the next generation of great DSPs might not even know that the career exists. It takes an effort from the community to expose everyone to individuals who experience a disability to find those with a passion for supporting them.

With the Behavioral Studies Program working toward having the focus on hands-on learning, that exposure will only increase, and students will have the opportunity to find their passion. That is why we are so excited to begin this partnership with Chemeketa.

“It began with breaking down those institutions, like Fairview, and bringing people out into the community,” Boyd said. “Now, it’s time to take it a step further and bring it into the education system. Show that passion for the work, and people will follow.”

If you want to help MVA innovate this field further and empower people to live their best lives, you can find career, volunteer, and donation opportunities at mvadvancements.org.

Thank you for your support and we’ll keep you updated on this exciting new partnership.