DDSOO Statewide Steering & Local Implementation Committees
For the Rollout Of
NADSP Code of Ethics, NYS DSP Core Competencies, and PROMOTE
Project Charter
June 18, 2014
PROJECT BACKGROUND AND OVERVIEW:
Over the last several years the role of the Direct Support Professional (DSP) throughout our
enterprise has changed. Service providers in the public and private sectors are improving their
culture by focusing on person-centered supports and outcomes across the spectrum of services
and changing their emphasis from congregate services to more individualized supports.
Accomplishing this shift requires greater attention to ethical practices and high levels of
competency. To this end, OPWDD adopted the National Alliance for Direct Support
Professionals (NADSP) Code of Ethics, and the OPWDD Talent Development Consortium of
stakeholders and experts established a set of Direct Support Professional Core Competencies that
include nationally validated community support skill standards. The Core Competencies guide
direct support professionals in enabling people with disabilities to enjoy meaningful relationships
with friends, family and others in their lives; experience personal health and growth; live in the
home of their choice; and fully participate in their communities.
The NADSP Code of Ethics has nine nationally validated tenets which are incorporated into the
Core Competencies. Although the Justice Center Code of Conduct shares language commonality
with the NADSP Code of Ethics, the two codes are distinct from each other and should be treated
as distinct and different.
The Core Competencies are comprised of seven goals, twenty three competencies, and sixty
skills. Within the Core Competencies document, there are examples of tasks that illustrate each
of the skills. These tasks are not skills; rather, they are illustrative of the skills. Feedback from
providers who piloted the competencies state-wide suggested having an ability to modify tasks
within goals four through seven. As a result, providers are allowed the flexibility to include tasks
that serve as examples of skills that are relevant to their specific array of services.
The Core Competencies and the Performance Evaluations provide standardized expectations that
focus on people-first services and advance the profession of direct support. Both present an
opportunity for portability of skill transfer for DSPs and ground-breaking occupational
recognition by the NYS Department of Labor.
PROMOTE is more than just a training course; it is a way of supporting people with
developmental disabilities. It focuses on developing positive relationships and equipping staff
with effective support strategies, called primary tools, to help foster and strengthen those
relationships. In this sense, the curriculum of PROMOTE dovetails with he Core Competencies
and serves as a supporting curriculum to the Core Competencies . It is based on the premise that
people with developmental disabilities will live richer, fuller lives when relationship-based
Charter: Statewide Steering & Implementation Committees on Rollout of PROMOTE, Code, Core 6.18.14 Page 1
supports are provided, thus reducing the likelihood of challenging or dangerous behaviors that
can result in injury, as well as damage to self-confidence and relationships.
PROMOTE teaches direct support professionals, clinical staff, and supervisors the importance of
forming connections with others, creating opportunities for relaxation and recreation, and
building self-confidence. It prepares staff to deal with behavioral events by training them in the
use of primary tools that will help a person regain self control, and in the use of physical
techniques, called secondary tools, that are the least restrictive methods necessary to ensure the
safety of all involved.
PROJECT SPONSOR: The project is sponsored by Kerry A. Delaney, Acting Commissioner of
OPWDD, and includes participation of stakeholders across state operations in OPWDD system.
Oversight of the rollout of will be provided by a DDSOO statewide steering committee,
described further in this document.
PROJECT GOAL: the full implementation of the NADSP Code of Ethics, NYS DSP Core
Competencies by March 31, 2017 across the OPWDD enterprise and PROMOTE by April 30,
2017 in State Operations.
PROJECT OBJECTIVES:
 May 2014: end of piloting and beginning of implementation of the Code of Ethics and
Core Competencies; continuation of PROMOTE training;
 May 2014 to May 2016: The Code of Ethics and the Core Competencies cascade through
state operations, beginning with administrative, training, personnel managers, treatment
team leaders, DDPS-IVs, DAs 2 & 3; continuous PROMOTE trainings;
 April 1, 2016 to March 31, 2017: evaluating all direct support staff on the Code of Ethics
and Core Competencies; completing PROMOTE trainings by May 31, 2017..
PROJECT TASKS : The composition of the statewide steering committee will reflect published
guidelines. Members will represent each of the six DDSOOs and serve as the liaison from the
local implementation committees to the statewide steering committee. Responsibilities of the
statewide steering committee members are:
 Participate in bi-monthly (or frequency determined by the chairperson) meetings;
 Ensure accurate communication by acting as the liaison between the local
implementation committees and the statewide steering committee;
 Account for and ensure progress with the Code of Ethics, Core Competencies,
Evaluations and PROMOTE as indicated on the team-by-team and DDSOO-by-DDSOO
progress spreadsheets;
 Serve as anchor workforce champions on the development initiatives;
 Serve as a conduit for issues, report on lessons learned, problem-solve and recommend
adjustments throughout this three-year initiative;
 Address resistance to general and specific change;
 Provide feedback on culture-improvement efforts related to these initiatives; and
 Celebrate success.
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COMMUNICATIONS
The Steering Committee meets bi-monthly to review overall project progress. Meeting minutes
will be recorded and shared with all members. Meeting participation will take place in person
when possible; use of technology for participation will be made available when needed.
Members of the Steering Committee will be liaisons to the Local Implementation Committees of
their home DDSOO.
The Local Implementation Committee meets monthly to ensure the execution of the published
rollout plan of the Code of Ethics, Core Competencies and PROMOTE. The Local
Implementation Committee may adjust the meeting schedule based on project needs. Meeting
minutes will be recorded and shared with all members. The Local Implementation Committee
facilitator will be appointed by the DDSOO Director and Chairperson of the Statewide Steering
Committee. The facilitator will report all progress to the Statewide Steering Committee liaison.
The facilitator and the liaison to the Statewide Steering Committee may be the same person.
PROJECT AUTHORITY
The DDSOO Statewide Steering Committee will provide guidance and oversight for the rollout
of the NADSP Code of Ethics, Core Competencies, DSP Performance Evaluations and
PROMOTE. The Acting Commissioner of OPWDD, Kerry A. Delaney, is the Project Sponsor.
The chairperson of this three-year project is Catherine Varano, director of Region 4 DDSOO.
Regis Obijiski, deputy director of workforce transformation, and Karen Galarneau, director of
training, James Maier, Statewide PROMOTE coordinator, and Dianne Henk, director of culture
initiatives, and Jill Pettinger, assistant commissioner, will serve as guidance managers of the
project. The DDSOO Statewide Steering and Local Implementation Committee members are
listed below:
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ETHICS, CORE COMPETENCIES and PROMOTE Statewide Steering and Local Implementation Committees
REGION
DDSOO
Statewide Steering Committee
1
Finger Lakes / Western New York Paula Wojtowicz
2
Broome / Central New York
Robert Camporeale
Local Implementation
Dawn Groves
Kathy Perry
Rita Kiernan
Kristina Sass
Jay Bowers
Steve Bojanek
Karen Wales
Holly Belveg
Catherine Frobel
Susan Williams
Lynette O'Brien
Tammy Nahumek
Abby Leskovar
David Mattoon
Robert Camporeale
Laurie Pendergraft
Charles LaBarre
Elizabeth Mahar
Scott Patterson
Tammie Hein
Joseph Mahon
Leona Cookinham
Edward Sorel
Josh Sprague
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3
Capital / Sunmount
Cheryl Greiner
4
Hudson Valley / Taconic
Cathy Varano
Shari Bakst
Robin Norquest
Cathy Rosemyer
Andy Devirgeles
Erin Sayles
Carol Giraurd
Sandy Graham
Shawn Brickey
Tim Humphrey
Angela Mead
Tara Willette
Maria Beyer
Bill Trackey
Maria Ortega
Jackie DeVille
George Hegarty
Kim Tvelia
Gary Krom
Laura Trubenbach
Bridget Reilly
Sandy Brennan
Audra Marshall
Carol Zucker
Melissa Marcone
Ryan Moyer
Jamar Richardson
Jackie White
Dave Wolf
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________
REGION
5
DDSOO
Brooklyn Staten Island / Metro
Statewide Steering Committee
Kevin Morley
6
Bernard Fineson / Long Island
Herminia Torres
Barry Ockner
Local Implementation
Patricia Foley
Rinnay Carney-Koutan
DDPS 4 from Brooklyn
Mike Stanley
(currently vacant)
Virginia Cipollina
Charron Bynoe
Joanne Hirsch
Reza Mohamed
Keith Collins Allen
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