Who Should Attend:
This FREE course is for direct care workers ready to expand their knowledge into specialized areas of care and support services. The 12-hour virtual course covers topics from food safety to end-of-life care. Students will deepen their understanding of aging, disabilities, mental health, and cultural competency while learning to support diverse populations. Through interactive sessions with qualified trainers, participants will develop both the technical knowledge and interpersonal skills required for success in the direct care field.
Course Structure
Program Format
- Twelve live, instructor-led, virtual classes. See Class Descriptions.
- One hour per class, totaling a twelve-hour training program.
- Flexible, self-scheduling class offerings to fit your availability.
Certification
- Upon successful completion of all twelve classes, you’ll earn your “Direct Care Associate” certificate.
Admission Criteria
- Online Registration Form
- Age of 16 years or greater.
- Eligible to work in the United States.
- Access to computer and internet for virtual training.
- We would like to advise interested participants that:
- NO high school diploma or equivalency is required.
- While we do not require proof of English language proficiency, all programming is currently offered only in English, including written materials.
Flexible Scheduling
Our courses are designed to accommodate the busy and varying schedules of direct care workers. You can complete any program level at your own pace, choosing class times that fit your availability. While we recommend taking classes in sequence for the best learning experience, you have the flexibility to take them in a different order if needed. To earn certification for any program level, you’ll need to complete all required classes within that level.
Don’t worry if you can’t finish all your classes at once – you can pause your training and resume whenever you’re ready. We also welcome students who want to take individual classes, whether for a skills refresher or to focus on specific topics. The choice is yours: work toward the full certificate or enhance your skills one class at a time.
Class Descriptions
Class 201: Food Safety
Whether their role involves shopping, cooking, serving meals, and/or assisting an individual to eat, direct care workers handle food. In this class, students will explore the essentials for preventing food-borne illness. Topics include avoiding the spread of germs, recognizing vulnerabilities for serious illness, and the safe preparation and storage of different foods.
Class 202: Changes as We Age
Direct care workers support older adults and can benefit from understanding the changes experienced by an aging person. In this class, students will understand the factors that influence the aging experience, describe the physical changes of the aging body, how to adapt supports for the aging person, and identify between changes and conditions in the body systems.
Class 203: Meaningful Activities
In addition to being a source of support and services, direct care workers are a source of meaningful interactions for the individuals they work with. In this class, students will learn what makes for a meaningful interaction, develop communication strategies, and better understand the use of reminiscence in direct care work.
Class 204: Family Dynamics and Legal Considerations
Direct care workers may encounter individuals who have a legal guardian or durable power of attorney (DPOA) for healthcare, and will benefit from understanding the applicable terms, regulations, and ethical principles to these scenarios. In this class, students will explore facts and myths about working with individuals who require decision-making support, describe collaboration, and prepare for potential challenging situations in the workplace.
Class 205: Home Safety and Emergency Situations
There is always a risk of an emergency that could impact the safety of a direct care worker or the individual they support. In this class, students will explore the possible safety concerns encountered in the home setting, identify steps to respond, and prepare to assist a person during a medical emergency.
Class 206: Introduction to Dementia
As the population ages, direct care workers can benefit from preparation to work with individuals with dementia. In this class, students will build awareness of the types and symptoms of dementia, cognitive impairment, and delirium.
Class 207: Introduction to Mental Illness
Direct care workers often support individuals with mental illness. In this class, students will be introduced to the topic of mental illness, its prevalence, and its impact. Additionally, this class will address the experience of working with individuals experiencing symptoms of mental illness and how to engage in person-centered support.
Class 208: Introduction to Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities
Direct care workers frequently provide support and services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. In this class, students are introduced to IDD, the history of direct care work for individuals with IDD, and the role of direct care workers in home and community-based services. Finally, students will practice including person-centered thinking and meaningful activities while supporting individuals with IDD.
Class 209: Introduction to Trauma
Traumatic experiences can impact an individual’s life and their future interactions with direct care workers. In this class, direct care workers are introduced to the concepts of trauma, the impact of traumatic experiences on individuals, and how direct care worker support may be affected. Finally, students will learn about secondary trauma in their profession.
Class 210: Specialty Communication
Not everyone communicates the same way. Direct care workers may encounter challenges communicating with the individuals they support. In this class, students identify risks for communication challenges and learn from examples of these challenges and techniques for enabling specialty communication.
Class 211: Introduction to Diversity and Cultural Awareness
Direct care workers and the individuals they support represent diverse cultural backgrounds. Cultural competency in direct care work is important for building support and belonging. In this class, students will explore cultural competency, self-awareness, how to address misunderstandings, and developing relationships across cultural differences.
Class 212: Grief, Loss, and End of Life
Direct care workers frequently provide support and services to individuals near the end of life. In this class, students will learn to better understand grief and offer support to people who have experienced a loss. Class discussion will also address what to expect while supporting an individual who is dying, along with person-centered support for direct care workers working with people at the end of life.
Frequently Asked Questions
Courses are designed with DCWs of all types in mind. Our curriculum covers information DCWs need in every setting working with adults.
Yes. DCWs with any type of previous training, credentials, or experience are welcome in the course. Our trainings are designed with stackable certificates, with the opportunity to select only the certification(s) of interest. For example, CNAs without training or experience in the instrumental activities of daily living might wish to take the level 3 courses.
Right now, all of our training programs are covered under our generous grant funding administered by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services; one through FY23 General Funds and one through American Rescue Plan Act/Home and Community Based Services Spending Plan funds. In the future, we intend to use a fee-for-service model for students to enroll in our training courses.
DCW turnover is a challenge for employers and the field. DCWs frequently cite inadequate training as a source of dissatisfaction. Similarly, unsupportive employers are a large motivator of intention to leave. Employers can offer training to their employees to fill this need and demonstrate support for their employees to accomplish their professional goals and increase confidence in the workplace. Additionally, training contributes to professional development opportunities and a workplace culture that is based on collaboration, skill-building, and quality.
IMPART Alliance recognizes the impact engaged employers have on training outcomes. Interested employers can support their employees by signing up for classes offered by IMPART Alliance or by encouraging an expert DCW from their organization to complete our Train-the-Trainer course. If you would like to learn more about our training offerings, please email us at training.IMPART@msu.edu
Funding: This project is supported by grants to MSU IMPART Alliance, administered by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services; one through FY23 General Funds and one through American Rescue Plan Act/Home and Community Based Services Spending Plan funds.
