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DSD eList announcement

Date: Nov. 26, 2024
To: Direct support professionals, disability services providers, lead agencies, people with disabilities and their families and other interested parties
From: DHS Disability Services Division
Purpose: To promote DirectCourse’s free and low-cost online classes
Contact: dhs.dsd_cds@state.mn.us

DirectCourse: Free and low-cost online classes

Free and low-cost online classes to help support people with disabilities are available to individuals and organizations through DirectCourse, a learning management system.

DHS partners with the University of Minnesota Institute on Community Integration (ICI) to offer technical support and assistance with DirectCourse.

DirectCourse eligibility

DHS offers free access to DirectCourse for:

· Organizations that serve nine or fewer people with disabilities.

· People with disabilities and their families.

· Direct support professionals and caregivers.

· Professionals who serve people with disabilities.

· State, county and tribal nation employees.

To request DirectCourse access through DHS, refer to DHS – Request for learner account.

Organizations that serve 10 or more people with disabilities may set up learner and administrator accounts for a licensing fee. For more information about prices, refer to the free and low-cost options section on DHS – DirectCourse online classes.

DirectCourse topics

DirectCourse offers classes about the following topics:

· Supporting people with mental health conditions in the community.

· Positive supports.

· Caring for a vulnerable adult.

· Workforce development.

· Emergency preparedness.

· Person-centered access to long-term services and supports.

· Individual rights and choice.

· Employment for people on the autism spectrum.

Featured DirectCourse class collections

In partnership with ICI, DHS created the following class collections to help providers meet select training requirements in Minnesota:

· DHS – College of Direct Support (CDS) trains people, families and staff to prioritize life in the community for the people they support. For information about the CDS and 245D training requirements, refer to DirectCourse MN Crosswalks – Using the CDS to Meet the Minnesota DHS 245D Training Requirements.

· DirectCourse – College of Frontline Supervision and Management is within the CDS and trains supervisors, managers and leaders to apply best practices in support across disability, aging, mental health and other long-term services.

· DHS – College of Employment Services (CES) offers courses for people who support people with disabilities as they find jobs and encounter challenges.

· DHS – Person-Centered Counseling covers information and skills to implement person-centered planning principles and practices.

DirectCourse also offers modules to help providers meet criteria for:

· 245D licensure.

· Employment services.

· Minnesota Positive Support Rule.

· Positive support specialist and analyst training requirements.

Sign up for DirectCourse

To request DirectCourse access through DHS, refer to DHS – Request for learner account. After you submit the form, you will receive enrollment instructions via email in two to three business days.

Previous eList announcements

DSD LEAD AGENCY ARCHIVE | DSD STAKEHOLDER ARCHIVE

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