Direct support professionals
Direct support professionals help people to increase their independence and be more included in community life. DSPs work in a variety of settings, including family homes, individual homes, small community group homes, vocational and day programs, as well as other locations. Their work requires creativity, flexibility, dedication, problem-solving skills and compassion.
Below are some resources for people interested in a career or already working as a direct support professional:
New DSPs
If you are interested in starting a rewarding career in direct care, here is some information to get you started:
Finding a job
Certification or requirements
Planning your career
Current DSPs
Supporting parents at work and other resources
Associations and unions
Department of Health grants
Regional Health Equity Network grant
The Regional Health Equity Network grant was developed to strengthen organizational and community capacity to advance health equity through cross-sector training, technical assistance, and skills development. Some of the activities might include promoting a diverse workforce representative of the communities being served and providing implicit bias training for staff from two or more organizations.
Department of Human Services grants
Cultural and Ethnic Minority Infrastructure Grant (CEMIG)
The purpose of CEMIG (PDF) is to expand mental health and substance use disorder services by increasing the number of licensed mental health practitioners/professionals and licensed alcohol and drug counselors, as well as other behavioral health supports such as peer/family specialists and recovery peer specialists, from ethnic and cultural minority communities.
Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services Standards Implementation Grants
The Minnesota Legislature appropriated funding for grants to implement standards that increase access to culturally and linguistically appropriate services for people who receive HCBS services from disability, mental health and substance use disorder service providers. These grants may include training initiatives to help DSPs develop additional skills, improve the quality of supports provided, grow professionally and take advantage of career opportunities. This grant opportunity closed in November 2022.
Disability Services Innovation Grants
The Disability Services Innovation Grants support new and innovative ideas to improve outcomes for people with disabilities. Starting with the 2020 request for proposals (RFP) and again in the 2022 RFP, DHS added a priority to grow the capacity and strength of the direct care and support workforce. The next RFP is expected in 2024, unless legislation changes the funding.
Live Well at Home grants
Live Well at Home grants help local communities and organizations to improve their capacity to develop, strengthen and integrate home and community-based programs for older adults who live in their own homes but may be at risk of long-term nursing home use and/or spending down assets to qualify for Medical Assistance. Applications for the RFP for fiscal year 2024 closed in April 2023.
Provider capacity grants
The provider capacity grants are for organizations serving, or looking to serve, home and community-based services (HCBS) to rural and underserved communities. The goal of this proposal is to increase the number and capacity of providers, so that people who receive services have the opportunity to receive services from providers who may have shared histories, languages, cultures and norms. This grant opportunity closed in January 2023.
Regional and Local Dementia Grants
Regional and Local Dementia Grants focus on the impact that Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias have on family and friend caregivers and on communities. The grant funds promote collaboration and strengthen community relationships and partnerships by increasing awareness of dementia and connecting family, friends and caregivers of people with dementia to education and resources. Applications for the RFP for fiscal year 2024 closed in May 2023. The application for fiscal 2025 will be available soon at the link above.
Department of Labor and Industry and Office of Higher Education opportunities
Registered apprenticeship grants
The apprenticeship funding opportunities support employers interested in forming a new registered apprenticeship program. The grants also support existing registered apprenticeship programs seeking to grow their current training programs. These grants are often available year-round and are funded through both state and federal initiatives.
Minnesota Dual-Training Pipeline
Minnesota Dual-Training Pipeline exists to support employers in creating or enhancing a competency-based earn-and-learn dual-training approach to meeting their workforce needs. With pipeline, workers receive a combination of related instruction that leads to earning a degree, certificate or industry-recognized credential paired with on-the-job training. The Dual Training Grant will reimburse tuition expenses necessary to gain skills for specific high-demand jobs. Applications for these grants open for employers annually in the spring, pending legislative approval. Find more information about the pipeline and apprenticeship programs in the eList announcement, Department of Labor and Industry offers recruitment and retention tools for employers.
Other opportunities
Find additional opportunities on the following pages:
