| Employers and Agencies
One of the unique strengths of the Consumer
Provider Training Program is that students are guaranteed
a job upon graduation. Agencies should welcome well-trained
consumer providers to their staff as they serve as positive
role models and provide reason for hope for both staff and
clients.
Consequently, in order for consumers in
your catchment area to participate in the training, your agency
must make a commitment to provide a half-time entry level
staff position.
Program graduates have been employed as
case manager assistants, residential services assistants,
mental health support services workers, partial hospital client
aides, peer counselors, and in similar entry level clinical
positions.
The 21-credit Consumer Provider Training
Program exceeds the current DMAS requirement for classroom
training for paraprofessionals, and the 12-week internship
counts towards the DMAS-required work experience. After nine
months on the job (working under the supervision of a QMHP),
graduates of this program will meet the DMAS requirements
for "qualified paraprofessional in mental health."
In budget terms, a job commitment means
that your agency will pay a student at least a minimum wage
for eight weeks of their twenty hours per week internship
during the current fiscal year (May - June); in the next fiscal
year's budget, wages will include another four weeks at twenty
hours per week at minimum wage (July), with ongoing half-time
entry level wage employment in a direct service position beginning
in August.
Although it is recommended that the application
process for your agency's student positions be as open as
possible (since it can provide excellent pre-vocational experience
in filling out applications and going through interviews for
a range of consumers), your agency may handle the process
in the way that works best for you.
Final interviews will be done by a panel
that will include VHST staff, staff from your agency, a consumer,
and a DRS counselor. Although this committee will make recommendations
to the agency about the candidates, the final decision about
student selection must be approved by agency staff, since
it is essentially a pre-employment decision.
If you have any questions or would
like to learn more about your role as an employer, please
contact the VHST.
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