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EASTERSEALS NEW HAMPSHIRE OFFERS FREE STATEWIDE TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS WORKING IN SOCIAL SERVICES

Curriculum to encompass state-mandated annual course requirements across various clinical disciplines, in addition to training that can lead to accreditation with the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals

Manchester, NH, October 22, 2024– Easterseals NH, which supports approximately 16,000 children, adults, seniors, and veterans of all abilities each year, will provide more than 100 free statewide training opportunities to direct support professionals working with social service agencies across the state as part of its newly established Training Center of Excellence.

In addition to state-required annual training, available courses will include a pathway to advancement and certification via the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP).

Easterseals NH staff training instructors will conduct courses that cover various focus areas, illustrating how social services professionals can effectively assist individuals with clinically complex backgrounds, significant treatment requirements, or histories of high-risk behaviors. Participants will also gain insights into utilizing modern technology and navigating social interactions and relationships, as well as strategies to mitigate isolation and loneliness among the individuals they serve.

Starting November 1, courses will be offered both online and in person. Customized topics and scheduling options will also be available.

Direct support professionals can progress through three levels of NADSP certification. Each level entails distinct prerequisites for accredited education hours and requires the completion of at least one competency-based electronic badge (e-badge) issued by the NADSP. The focus areas for these badges encompass crisis prevention and intervention, person-centered practices, community inclusion and networking, empowerment and advocacy, and cultural competence.

The curriculum is offered at no cost, made possible by a state-funded grant that Easterseals NH received earlier this fall. Courses will continue through the spring of 2025.

Easterseals NH is the first and only provider in the state to achieve NADSP accreditation.

To learn more about Easterseals NH’s Training Center of Excellence and to view the course schedule, visit eastersealsnh.org/training-center-of-excellence or contact [email protected].

About Easterseals New Hampshire

Since 1936, Easterseals New Hampshire has provided exceptional services to ensure that all people with varied abilities and their families have equal opportunities to live, learn, work, and play in their communities. A leader in social services for individuals with disabilities and those underserved by traditional programs, Easterseals NH provides essential services and supports to approximately 16,000 children, adults, seniors, and veterans annually. Our programs cover areas like early intervention, autism, intellectual and developmental disabilities, adult day and in-home care, behavioral health, housing, and substance use disorders. Easterseals NH is a community of care for all ages, for all abilities, for life.

For more information, visit eastersealsnh.org or follow us @EastersealsNH on Facebook.

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