Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

• Is PATHS just for people who live in Brazos County?
  No, the PATHS Certificate Program is open to people living anywhere in Texas.

• What is a Direct Support Professional?
  A Direct Support Professional (DSP) is a title for a person who works in a community setting to support people with disabilities and older people to live in their communities. The term represents a broad range of employment options that may also be titled Personal Care Attendants, Direct Care Staff, Respite Workers or Community Support Specialists.  People in any of the above mentioned positions work to support people with disabilities and older people to ensure their ability to live independently in the community. A DSP may be employed by a private community provider agency for people with intellectual disabilities, a home health agency, the family of the individual receiving services, or directly by an individual with a disability

•  The title of Direct Support Professional (DSP) is not commonly used in Texas. Why not just use other more identifiable titles like: Personal Care Attendants or Direct Care Staff?
  Terminology and language is powerful. People in direct care positions play a critical role in supporting people with disabilities to live in their homes, small group homes or with their families. It important to elevate the position title to reflect the critical role DSPs play in the day to day lives of people with disabilities. In addition, the DSP employment title reflects a national trend and with terminology that is congruent with a national certificate program--accreditation that PATHS will actively pursue.

• What is considered a community setting?
  A community setting is where the person will receive services and supports by a DSP. This could include a small community home for three people with intellectual disabilities, an apartment or home where a person with a physical disability resides or a home where a child or adult with a disability continues to live with their family or foster family. DSP may support a person with a disability by assisting the person to get dressed, eat their meals, provide transportation, on the job supports, budgeting skills, shopping, cooking and attending recreational activities. 

• What is a community provider?
  A community provider is a private non-profit or for-profit corporation that employs DSPs to provide a wide range of services for individuals with disabilities and older people. DSPs are employed by a community provider to work in small group homes, with a person living with their family or a person who lives in their own home or apartment. Community providers are responsible for all of the training for DSPs; training PATHS participants will receive in the program. As community services become more and more self-directed, family members are emerging as their own community providers for their loved one with a disability and employ DSPs. Individuals who have disabilities also direct and employ DSPS. Home Health Care providers employ DSPs to support older people who live in their home. 

• Why would a community provider pay a PATHS graduate a higher wage than someone without a PATHS Certificate?
  Direct care positions serving people with disabilities is a high turnover position, costing community providers thousands of dollars to re-train and recruit new employees. There is a direct cost benefit to community providers to employ people certified by the PATHS program, as graduates will not only have the minimum requirements but also numerous enrichment courses and an onsite practicum experience. Further, PATHS graduates will enter the workforce with the only certificate for Direct Support Professionals in Texas, bringing a commitment to a career, not just a job. This commitment to a career should limit the turnover in these positions and lead to further opportunities for professional growth for PATHS graduates.