New Jersey § 18a:64a-83

§ 18a:64a-83.

The Direct Support Professional Career Development Program shall be established by

the New Jersey Community College Consortium for Workforce and Economic Development

at one of its Centers for Workforce Innovation as part of the New Jersey Pathways

to Career Opportunities Initiative. The program shall also establish two additional program sites, one located at a

county college in the northern region of the State, and one located at a county college

in the southern region of the State. The Secretary of Higher Education, in consultation with the New Jersey Council of

County Colleges, shall select the location for the program's additional sites. The program shall be guided by an advisory council that includes representatives from

target school districts, county colleges, and One-Stop Career Centers, and representatives

from each of the following stakeholder groups: people with disabilities, family members

of people with disabilities, direct support professionals, frontline supervisors,

and service provider leadership. The advisory council shall work in partnership with the Division of Developmental

Disabilities in the Department of Human Services and the Boggs Center on Developmental

Disabilities, Rutgers, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. The Secretary of Higher Education, in consultation with the President of the New Jersey

Council of County Colleges, shall appoint the members of the advisory council. Members of the advisory council shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed

for their actual and necessary expenses. It shall be the purpose of the program to provide a potential career path to individuals

interested in human services and allied health career fields in addition to existing

direct support professionals, thereby assisting with recruitment and retention of

this critical workforce. The program, through partnerships with local school districts, county colleges, and

One-Stop Career Centers, shall identify and recruit individuals who are interested

in learning about and serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The program shall provide participating students with a one-year fellowship program

that offers mentorship and training regarding the responsibilities of direct support

professionals and a potential job opportunity upon graduation. The program shall provide online training in addition to on-site training and mentorship

with experienced direct support professionals employed by collaborating agencies that

serve individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. In addition to students, the Direct Support Professional Career Development Program

shall work with existing and potential direct support professionals to identify their

educational goals including credentialing, an associate's degree, and a bachelor's

degree. The Direct Support Professional Career Development Program shall collaborate with

local One-Stop Career Centers to provide opportunities for unemployed and underemployed

workers to receive training to pursue employment in the field of Direct Support.