Minnesota to use Elsevier DirectCourse curriculum to train direct care professionals

Curriculum for continued professional training and education now available through Minnesota state agencies for direct care professionals

Elsevier, a world-leading publisher of scientific, technical and medical information products and services, announced today that the State of Minnesota will provide new online curricula from Elsevier DirectCourse to train those who support people with disabilities using long-term services and supports.

DirectCourse's suite of online curricula, anchored by the College of Direct Support (CDS), includes the College of Recovery and Community Inclusion (CRCI), the College of Employment Services (CES) and the College of Personal Assistance and Caregiving (CPAC). The integrated, web-based curricula are designed for workers who support people with disabilities. The agreement will enable learners throughout Minnesota to explore and access expert training for direct care professionals.

"Direct care professionals should be informed and empowered in their positions," said Alex Bartolic, Director, Department of Human Services, Disability Services Division, State of Minnesota. "We are confident DirectCourse will be a valuable resource to them. The courses are developed in collaboration with nationally recognized research and training centers, which no other curriculum provider can claim. We wanted to make the curriculum available across our long-term services and supports system in Minnesota. When a person selects a provider or elects to be the employer through one of our self-directed options, they should be granted access to high quality, individualized services with competent direct care workers across the state."

The State of Minnesota will include three DirectCourse content areas in the pilot, including:

• CRCI, launched in October 2013 and developed in conjunction with the Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion of Individuals with Psychiatric Disabilities. CRCI is designed for community mental health practitioners and includes such topics as The Effective Use of Documentation; Universal Precautions and Infection Control; Seeing the Person First: Understanding Mental Health Conditions; and Mental Health Treatments, Services and Supports.
• CES, developed in collaboration with Institute for Community Inclusion at the University of Massachusetts, Boston. CES is designed for professionals who support people with disabilities and other challenges to finding employment. The courses connect professionals with a nationally recognized set of competencies for their field. The Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification has approved each CES course for continuing education credits.
• CPAC, developed in collaboration with Community Living Policy Center at the University of California, San Francisco. CPAC is designed for those who work with people with physical disabilities and older adults. Courses are designed for personal care assistants, home care providers, and family caregivers who want to develop the skills needed for this important work.

Each DirectCourse curriculum is crafted by established educational institutions that are known and respected for their dedication to research and training in community and workforce development.

"Through this agreement with Minnesota, we hope to empower direct care workers who support the physical, social, emotional, and employment needs of people with disabilities to develop the necessary skills and competencies of supported individuals so that they are better able to live satisfying, successful, and self-directed lives," said Hajo Oltmanns, Senior Vice President, Performance & Services, Elsevier. "We believe these programs create a greater sense of community inclusion and purpose for those with mental health, developmental and physical disabilities."

Courses are all self-directed and administered by Elsevier's industry leading learning management system, and were created with input from the University of Minnesota's Research and Training Center on Community Living. Administrators and supervisors track progress, assign lessons and create customized content with ease in an effort to ensure all workers have access to the high-quality training throughout their career. The content meets national practitioner competencies and is guided by recognized experts in the field.