What will I learn after reading this article?
- An Introduction to Fast Track Respite Training
- What jobs can I do after completing Fast Track Respite Training?
- How Mai started her career as a Direct Care Worker after completing Fast Track Respite Training.
An Introduction to Fast-Track Respite Training
Fast-Track Respite training is a free, online 10-hour introductory training that teaches students how to care for individuals living with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Intellectual and developmental disabilities are differences that are usually present at birth and that uniquely affect the trajectory of the individual’s physical, intellectual, and/or emotional development. Many of these conditions affect multiple body parts or systems such as the nervous and sensory systems, metabolism, and degenerative systems (NIH, 2024).
Respite (In-Home) Services means regularly scheduled, temporary, non-medical care and/or supervision provided in the person's home. This can include:
- Assisting family members to enable a person with developmental disabilities to stay at home.
- Providing appropriate care and supervision to protect that person's safety.
- Attending to the basic self-help needs and other activities that would be performed by a family member.
After completing Fast Track Respite Training, you will learn:
- The Basics of Hygiene.
- Safety during COVID-19.
What jobs can I do after completing Fast Track Respite Training?
The need for Direct Care Workers (especially workers with bilingual language skills) continues to grow. According to Zippia.com, the projected job growth for Direct Care Workers is 36% from 2018 - 2028. This means over the next 10 years, there is an expected additional of 1,185,800 new jobs for Direct Care Workers (Zippia, 2024).
Direct Care Workers can include jobs such as:
- Caregivers - Support with daily living activities for individuals with developmental disabilities such as feeding, dressing, washing, toileting, etc.
- Vocational Trainers - Support individuals with developmental disabilities with employment services, job coaching, and one-on-one training.
- Adult Day Program Instructor - Provide direct instructional services to individuals with developmental disabilities such as daily living, visual and performing arts, etc.
The pay range for these positions can be from $17.00 - $25.00 per hour, depending on experience, training, and skill level.
Some of our students who have graduated from our Fast-Track Respite Training program are currently working as Caregivers, Vocational Trainers, and Adult Day Program Instructors!
How Mai started her career as a Direct Care Worker after completing Fast Track Respite Training.
Mai graduated from our Fast-Track Respite Training and also our Direct Support Professional training. She was able to start on a new career path as a Direct Care Worker shortly after.
I found DHTI's trainings, to be a very meaningful program to help me understand how I can communicate to people with disabilities and how I can help them develop their communication skills. This way, I can support and advocate for a person with disabilities in living a better life.
Before I joined the training program, I thought my responsibility was to keep people with disabilities safe. After I finished the training program, I learned how to support them as a Direct Support Professional. Also, the training supported me a lot to complete my current job.
I want to continue developing my career by growing into different Direct Care Worker positions.
Do you also want to start your career as a Direct Care Worker?
Do you live in the Bay Area and speak another Asian language?
Apply for your free, online Fast-Track Respite Training today! (After graduating, you can start working at a new job within 1-3 months.)
Sources
Direct Care Worker Job Outlook And Growth In The US [2024] - Zippia