DSP Recognition Week 2023 is upon us! Get ready for a week-long celebration with IACP. With two guest speakers, the DSP Awards Show, and more fun and celebrations planned for the week, join us in honoring Direct Support Professionals, the lifeblood of the community provider industry, and raise awareness of this critical profession! Check out some ideas on how you can get involved in saying "thank you!"

A special thank you to our sponsors Relias, Iowa Total Care and Molina for making this week's events available to all of Iowa's DSPs!

Events

Monday, September 11

  • #MondayFunDay: Kick off the week by sprinkling a little fun into the day of your DSPs (check out our list of ideas)!
  • Share the Governor's Proclamation on social media and tell why DSPs are important in your life!

Tuesday, September 12

  • FREE Webinar at 10:30 am: Touching the Heart of Our Work: A Celebration of Direct Support Professionals
    • Click here to view the recording.  Note:  This recording is available to for viewing only and may not be duplicated in any way.  
    • Passcode: DSPWk#1_2023

Wednesday, September 13

  • #ShowtheLoveWednesday: How are you showing love for the DSPs at your organization? Tag us on social media and let us know!
  • FREE Webinar at 1:30 pm: 3 Keys to Experiencing More Happiness and Joy in Your Everyday Life
    • Click here to view recording.
    • Passcode: DSPWk#2_2023

Thursday, September 14 

  • #ThankYouThursday: Check out our printable thank you cards! Print one (or 10!) and let your DSPs know how grateful you are for them!

Friday, September 15

  • #IACPDSPs are superheroes! Whether in costume or normal streetwear, tag us in your photos on social media of your organization's superheroes!

 

Let's connect!

Leading up to the weeklong celebration, use the hashtag #IACPDSPs in your social media posts or send your photos to Brita so we can recognize these outstanding DSPs, too!

How are you planning to celebrate at your organization?

DSP Recognition Week is an important opportunity to celebrate those who support people with mental health and physical disabilities to live, work and learn in their communities. Check out some of the options below to help commemorate the vital work of DSPs: 

  • Share the Governor's Proclamation
  • Host a staff barbecue or appreciation picnic 
  • Have supervisors handwrite thank you notes to each DSP 
  • Deliver “we care packages” during DSP week staff meetings 
  • Draw for prizes during the week (gift cards, movie tickets, gas cards, pizza coupons) 
  • Hold agency DSP awards 
  • Traveling snack cart 
  • Seek local media coverage (newspaper/radio) 
  • Write a thank you
  • Share pictures and words of thanks on social media or organize a social media campaign
  • Interview DSPs 
  • Be visible and engage with staff during their shifts 
  • Pancake breakfast for DSPs 
  • Seek local media coverage (newspaper/radio) 
  • In-services with prize drawings and DSP recognition 
  • Hold a theme party 
  • Write letters to the editor and submit to local newspapers of successful impact stories in preparation for recognition week 
  • Encourage your municipality to fly a yellow flag 
  • Sign this Petition for Standard Occupational Classification for DSPs 

 

Celebration Sponsors

Relias Learning

Relias Learning is an online learning management system with a variety of available training.

As an IACP member benefit, we have negotiated group pricing for IACP members based on the number of learners each agency will have in the system. For about the price of a sandwich, your employees will have access to the enormous Relias library, with content on just about everything you need. Also, the system allows uploading of your own, agency-specific material to meet Iowa-specific training requirements.  

Contact Brita for more information on contracting through IACP to access Relias.

Iowa Total Care

Iowa Total Care is a subsidiary of Centene Corporation (Centene), is a managed care organization that provides healthcare services and Iowa state-sponsored health insurance plans through local, regional and community-based resources. Their team is here to treat the whole person by breaking down barriers to accessing care, walking members through their benefits and connecting them to the care and services they need. Click here to learn more.

Molina Healthcare

Molina believes every person, family and community deserves access to high-quality health care regardless of their situation. Their mission is to deliver effective, reliable and affordable health care to those who need it most. They strive to meet the physical, social, and emotional needs of each member and to strengthen the communities they serve. Molina does this by offering a holistic, community-based approach designed specifically to meet the individual needs of members. Click here to learn more.