Who are the People Who Work in the CPI Home at Victory Ave.?

The Role of Direct Support Professionals

Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) give guidance and support to people with disabilities who need help to be self-sufficient. At Community Partners, Inc. (CPI), these professional caregivers specialize in providing support to adults with intellectual and multiple disabilities. Supports include teaching life skills, providing physical assistance, personal care, and fostering individual choices and self-direction.

At CPI, we employ 234 Direct Support Professionals and 13 work at our residential program on Victory Avenue. Most DSP jobs are entry level and require a high school diploma, certification from the State of Maine, and a driver's license. All caregivers are required to participate in more than 100 hours of core training, and CPI also provides long-term education to develop advanced skills, knowledge, and attitudes for a high standard of professional development.

Our mission at CPI is to support people to live valued lives within their communities. We could not accomplish this without the commitment of our DSPs. Working under the direction of a Program Manager, they provide services that enrich lives with an emphasis on creating a home-like environment. Activities may include shopping at the grocery store, going to the movies, or attending a community festival. DSPs help people become fully integrated into community life.

Daily activities can vary, but these are the main responsibilities of a DSP:

Advocacy—Assists people to achieve personal goals, overcome barriers, and participate in activities of their choice; respects personal beliefs, choices, and interests

Health Maintenance—Provides assistance to promote good health; helps with medical care and communicates with medical professionals; administers medications according to physician instructions; records information regarding health events, conditions, and status; provides First Aid/CPR and seeks emergency medical care when needed

Personal Care—Helps with eating, grooming, dressing, bathing, and toileting

Living Skills Development—Helps develop living skills such as cooking, managing money, shopping, laundry, and personal hygiene; records progress on skill development and achievement; serves as a role model and mentor; coaches using approved techniques and strategies; maintains cleanliness of program; transports people to activities; helps with tasks that are beyond a person's abilities

The 13 DSPs and one program manager at the Victory Avenue residence are enthusiastic about the new weatherization project scheduled for their home. Here are some of their comments about the BrightBuilt Retrofit:

"Amazing! Unique and ingenious that each side comes as a pre-fabricated panel."

"To be able to regulate the heat will be great for the comfort of the people that live at Victory and the staff that support them."

"Enhancing the quality of life for the people who live here. It will be nice for the folks to come home to a nice looking home."

"Completing the idea of reducing our carbon imprint will create awareness for those who may not realize how much of an impact one single home causes on the environment."

Making energy-saving investments in older buildings where we live and work – saving energy during the coldest months – will reduce one of our biggest expenses at CPI. The Brightbuilt Retrofit is an important step we can take now to ensure our existence in the future.