Internship Program: Person Centered Direct Support

Arkansas Support Network 

Compensation: $12.50/hour

Supervisor(s): Samantha Behrman, Karina Merlos

Reporting To: Behavioral Health and Support Coordination Departments

Internship Goals and Learning Objectives

The primary goal of this internship is to provide college students with hands-on experience and comprehensive training in person-centered planning, direct support focused on empowerment, and community outreach. This program will prepare them for careers in human services and other fields that value interpersonal skills, strategic thinking, and ethical practice.

Upon completion of the internship, interns will be able to:

• Understand and apply the principles of person-centered planning to create individualized support plans that prioritize connection, community and independence for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).
• Demonstrate proficiency in facilitating active participation in community life, fostering meaningful relationships and supporting individuals in pursuing their personal interests and goals.
• Develop effective communication and interpersonal skills for building genuine rapport with individuals, collaborating with families, and contributing to interdisciplinary teams, with an emphasis on amplifying the voices of the person receiving services from ASN.
• Gain knowledge of relevant state and federal regulations, ethical guidelines, and best practices in direct support.
• Design comprehensive support plans that integrate a combination of flexible support schedules, enabling technology, and remote support, demonstrating a nuanced understanding of how these alternatives enhance independence and reduce reliance on traditional models.
• Develop a versatile skill set in critical thinking, problem-solving, ethical decision-making, and organizational management applicable to a wide range of professional careers.

Internship Outline

1. Interns will first engage in training sessions with ASN's behavioral health and specialty support teams. During these sessions, interns will be introduced to the principles and life planning tools from "Charting the Lifecourse", as well as ASN's values-based AI tool, Visioning an Empowered Life (VEL).
2. Interns will then have the opportunity to use these programs to assist them in getting to know a group of individuals that ASN supports. Through collaborative engagement, interns will work alongside these individuals to articulate their support needs and co-develop a person-centered plan of care.? This process will focus on building connections based on common interests, exploring community opportunities, and identifying strategies for direct support that foster greater independence. This includes learning to deeply understand and integrate the individual's strengths, abilities, personal history, preferences, and needs, ensuring an authentic and self-directed person-centered planning experience.
3. Interns will be integrated into the supported living team of an individual they are matched with based on connection and common interests.? They will get to use the plans they created together, the intern will provide direct support hours for this individual, spending quality support time focused on community integration, skill-building for independence, and facilitating personal growth, while continually refining and expanding upon the individualized plan in collaboration with the person supported.
4. As the semester progresses, the interns will use their experience to create a final recommendation for support. Interns will be tasked with designing a comprehensive recommendation plan that effectively integrates one-on-one direct support, FlexSupport, enabling technology, and remote support for creating a balanced and impactful plan. For one-to-one support recommendations, the intern will create a profile and recruitment plan for quality staff members who align with the individual's preferences as well as ASN's empowerment-focused mission.

Key responsibilities include:

• Professional Development:
  • Actively participating in all required ASN training modules, with dedicated focus on advanced person-centered support planning.
  • Engaging in regular supervision meetings with their assigned supervisor to discuss progress, challenges, and learning opportunities.
• Person-Centered Planning:
  • Learn and implement Charting the Lifecourse and Visioning and Empowered Life to create an Individual Support Plan.
  • Practice active listening skills to better understand and implement wants and needs of the individuals we serve.

• Direct Support Activities:
  • Assisting individuals with personal care, hygiene, meal preparation, and household management, encouraging self-direction and skill development.
  • Supporting individuals in accessing community resources and fully participating in recreational, social, and educational activities based on their interests and goals.
  • Providing transportation to appointments, errands, and community activities.
  • Assisting with medication administration as per training and protocol, and proactively monitoring health and well-being. ?This includes assessing and integrating opportunities for health devices, applications, and enabling technologies that support a greater level of independence in managing one's own health.
  • Implementing flexible support schedules and integrating enabling technology and remote support into daily activities.

• Documentation and Reporting:
  • Maintaining accurate and timely documentation of services provided, progress towards goals, and any incidents or concerns.
  • Participating in team meetings and contributing to the development and review of Individual Support Plans (ISPs) with a focus on incorporating alternative support models.

Required Qualifications:

- Currently enrolled in an accredited college or university, pursuing a degree in a relevant field (e.g., Human Development, Psychology, Social Work, Education, Nursing, Public Health, Business Administration, Communications, etc.).

- Valid driver's license and reliable transportation.

- Ability to pass a background check and drug screening.

- Strong communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills.

- Empathy, patience, and a commitment to person-centered support.