Southwest Montana News

The Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) will honor Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) at the Developmental Disabilities Program (DDP) conference on Thursday, September 14, 2023. The event is scheduled to take place at 11:30 a.m. in Helena at the DoubleTree by Hilton.

"We are very excited to honor DSPs across the state for their commitment to serving Montanans with disabilities," stated DPHHS Director Charlie Brereton. "With service-oriented mindsets, these passionate individuals are there on a daily basis for those who need them most."

This conference is sponsored in collaboration with the Montana Council for Developmental Disabilities and the Montana Association of Community Disability Services. DSPs play an essential role in providing direct care or in-home support and working as personal assistants or attendants for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. They help ensure that individuals can live, work, and enjoy life more independently within community settings.

Residents of Montana are encouraged to nominate DSPs for recognition through an online application. One DSP from each of the five Montana DDP regions will be honored. The nomination form requests reasons focusing on person-centeredness, relationship cultivation, leadership, and innovation.

Nominations can be submitted by any interested parties such as the general public, providers, or families. The deadline for submission is August 31, 2023. Nominations can be sent via email to cdallas2@mt.gov, faxed to 406-444-0826, or mailed to 111 Sanders Room 305, P.O. Box 202955 Helena, MT 59620-2955.

Lindsey Carter, head of the DDP, noted that this is the first time in over a decade that this conference has been held. "We’re so excited to bring the conference back," Carter said. "It’s a terrific opportunity to bring together Montana providers, case managers, families and DPHHS staff for important training and collaboration."

Dr. Karyn Harvey will deliver a keynote address on Trauma Informed Care on September 13 at 8:30 a.m., discussing trauma sources in the lives of people with intellectual disabilities and sharing healing strategies through case studies.

Both the keynote address and awards ceremony will occur in Helena but will also be accessible remotely at several regional sites including Great Falls, Polson, Miles City, Billings, and Glasgow.

The conference coincides with National DSP Recognition Week from September 10-16—a week dedicated to celebrating DSPs who form the core of support services for people with disabilities.