CCRI's Newport Campus Offers new Direct Support Program

The Community College of Rhode Island and the J. Arthur Trudeau Memorial Center are offering a new, 10-week program to train students for careers as direct support professionals at the college’s Newport County Campus starting April 23.

Program participants could receive a $1,000 stipend and earn six college credits. The training will include topics such as crisis intervention, CPR/first aid, healthy lifestyles, ethics, positive behavior support, introduction to mental health, aging and Alzheimer’s topics, teaching and learning styles, employment and community inclusion, sensitivity and awareness and working with people with developmental disabilities.

They also will receive customized PACE.2.Employment training including work readiness and employability training, communication skills training, human relations and more. The program includes job search assistance, mock interviews and guest speakers.

In the final six weeks of the program, participants will complete an 85-hour internship at human services agencies in Jamestown, Newport and the East Bay area.

Potential students must be 18 or older, have a high school diploma or GED® credential, have no past criminal record, be able to lift at least 40 pounds, and be able to read and speak English clearly enough to understand how to provide patients with their medication and understand how to meet patient demands.

Interested candidates can call 401-455-6161 for more information. This Newport session is hosted by the Keystone Group (AccessPoint RI, Looking Upwards and Bridges Inc.)