CAREER OPPORTUNITIES IN THE FIELD OF DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES

Career opportunities are available with adults in Community Residential, Day, and Integrated Employment/Vocational supports and services as well as with children in Early Intervention, Pre-school, Child Care, Residential, and other community services.

A variety of scheduling options are available for all positions. We are looking for highly motivated and creative people who are seeking opportunities to make a difference in the lives of others as well as their own.

Direct Support Professional
A Direct Support Professional assists and supports people with developmental disabilities to lead self-determined lives as involved participants within their communities. The Direct Support Professional (DSP) assures that the safety and basic living needs of the individuals he/she supports are met while creating opportunities for growth in independence in self-care, socialization, recreation, and community living skills.

This position requires a High School diploma or GED and drivers license.

For a complete description of a Direct Support Professional click here.

ADDITIONAL CAREER OPPORTUNITIES:
• Employment Specialist
• Therapeutic Recreation Specialist
• Respite Support
• Child care Worker
• Teachers
• Early Intervention Specialist
• Therapists (OT, PT, Speech, Behavioral)
• Therapeutic Staff Support (TSS)
• Supervisors and other Management/ Leadership opportunities

* Requirements vary according to position. Degrees are needed for some positions.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES IN THE FIELD OF MENTAL HEALTH

Residential Counselor
There are a variety of positions in Residential Programs. These are programs where people with mental illness live. They may be single apartments, or several apartments together, or larger “family living” style arrangements. People may live alone in an apartment or may share the apartment with one or two other people

The Resident Counselor meets with people in their living situation and helps them learn and use practical skills such as meal planning, shopping, cooking, house keeping, budgeting and developing friendships. Sometimes the Residential Counselor works "on-site" meaning in an office in a home or apartment complex. Sometimes they are "mobile", meaning that they travel around visiting clients in the client/s homes. The duties often involve planning and participating in leisure time activities with clients in evenings and weekends.

Many residential programs are staffed 24/7, meaning that staff are needed for different shifts during each day and weekends. This affords the opportunity for flexible schedules. Good people skills, good "homemaker" skills are important. A High School diploma is needed as a minimum, many MH residential programs require some college or Bachelor's degree.

Case Manager
Case Managers work with people with Mental Illness, adults or children. The Case Manager helps the individual connect with a variety of needed services, including benefits (Social Security, Welfare); may help them find housing; employment; health services; and treatment. The Case Manager provides counseling and advice regarding different life skills and problem solving. You may work in an office or visit clients in their homes. These positions almost always require a college degree.

Rehabilitation Specialist
Rehabilitation Specialists work with adults who have mental illness. They assist them to accomplish personal goals related to education, employment, housing, and social life. Rehabilitation Specialists do not provide treatment but help clients accomplish many of the "quality of life" things that are important to all people, but are often more difficult to attain by persons with mental illness. Rehabilitation Specialists may work in special day programs, called Clubhouses where they work side by side with their clients. They usually work with other staff as a "team". Some Rehabilitation Specialists are mobile and work with clients in the client's home or other community settings. Good "people skills", problem solving skills, an interest in working with people in groups and being able to train or teach people are important. These positions sometimes require a college degree.

Employment Specialist or Job Coach
People working in these positions help adults with mental illness find jobs, learn how to do the job and how to maintain employment. An Employment Specialist is a special type of Rehabilitation Specialist, who focuses on helping people get jobs. This position often requires a college degree.

Job Coaches need a high school education or equivalent and good work habits. When a client gets a job, the Job Coach works with him/her on their job. The coach helps the client learn the job and counsels the client to help the client hold the job. Because clients get many different types of jobs and in different settings, these positions offer a variety of experiences in different locations and with a variety of work schedules. The job almost always involves transporting clients, so a driver's license and safe driving record is important.

Clinical Services/Therapist
These positions, usually in mental health centers, require college degrees or higher. They involve working with individuals in acute phases of their illness. Therefore, these jobs require special training and skills. You are usually working in a hospital, office or special day programs called Partial Hospital. Hours are day and evening.

Some specialized clinical workers are called Therapeutic Support Staff (TSS). They work with children, usually in the child's home.

Take the Next Step.