Nassau BOCES, EPIC LI launch training for support workers

In Garden City, Nassau BOCES Adult Education has partnered with EPIC Long Island to launch a new training program this fall for direct support professionals who assist individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Direct support professionals assist with a wide range of services, including transportation, personal care, individualized support, meal preparation and household tasks. These professionals are retained to foster independence and improve the overall quality of life for those they support.

The new training program will launch this fall at the Nassau BOCES Adult Education Career and Technical Education Center in Westbury and will be open to adults age 18 and older. In the course, enrollees will gain insights and job opportunities from EPIC (Extraordinary People In Care) Long Island, which is part of the EPIC Family of Human Service Agencies.

“With direct support in healthcare being one of the biggest industries on Long Island, there is a need for these professionals,” Brad Slepian, Nassau BOCES Adult Education supervisor, said in a news release about the partnership.

“We are excited to partner with EPIC LI to bring this training to our students,” Slepian added. “These professionals will ultimately assist people in realizing their full potential and help them become integrated and engaged in their community.”

The training program will be part of Nassau BOCES’ career and technical education curriculum, which offers job training and certification for adults seeking to enter or move forward in the workforce. EPIC Long Island operates a day habilitation program in East Meadow along with 18 group homes throughout Nassau and Suffolk counties and provides clinical services for children and adults who have developmental disabilities.

The course will provide the skills and certification required for employment in the direct support field.

The three-month program includes instruction on an established code of ethics, person-centered practices, colleague support and stress management, along with care delivery techniques. The program will combine classroom instruction with on-the-job training.

Nassau BOCES will supply instructors to lead the course, and EPIC staff will contribute to specific topics. For example, a representative from EPIC’s Quality Supports Department will lead a session on incident management and reporting.

The program is designed to provide graduates with job skills in the direct support field. Students who complete the program will be interviewed for positions at EPIC and may also apply to other providers certified by the New York State Office for People With Developmental Disabilities. Nassau BOCES will continue to offer support during the employment transition.

The program comes at a time when Long Island faces an increased need for direct support professionals, according to program organizers.

“The direct support professional role is the backbone of quality care for people with disabilities,” said Lisa Burch, president and CEO of the EPIC Family of Human Service Agencies, said in the news release.

“We are proud to partner with Nassau BOCES to offer this training program, strengthening Long Island’s workforce and addressing the urgent need for skilled [direct support professionals] in our region,” she added. “Graduates will leave with the certification, training and skills to support the independence and quality of life of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.”