Community Spotlight: Partners for Inclusive Communities

The Expanding the Public Health Workforce within the Disability Network Project

This month, we want to shine our community spotlight on the Expanding the Public Health Workforce within the Disability Network Project by our fellow Developmental Disabilities Network organization, Partners for Inclusive Communities (Partners). Partners is part of the University of Arkansas College of Education and Health Professions. You can find out more at their website https://uofapartners.uark.edu/about/.

The Arkansas Developmental Disabilities (DD) Network includes three (3) organizations funded through the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act (DD Act, or Public Law 106–402): the state council on developmental disabilities, the P & A (Protection and Advocacy Organization), and the UCED (University Center on Disabilities). This network is tasked to work collaboratively to achieve the core goals of the DD Act: self-determination, independence, productivity, integration, and inclusion in all facets of community for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). You can find out more here https://gcdd.arkansas.gov/about/dd-network/.

This Council-supported project has the goal of expanding the public health workforce within the DD Network by supporting efforts to recruit, hire, and train public health workers to respond to future public health challenges like the pandemic of 2020. This project will address the primary public health issue facing the IDD community at this time – the public health workforce shortage. The workforce shortage has reached a critical point both for individuals with IDD who are currently supported in the community and even more for those still waiting for community-based supports. Many people with disabilities do not have access to the direct care support professionals (DSPs) they need to live healthy lives because provider organizations are unable to fully staff; this is leading to some people with disabilities not being served and increasing poor health outcomes. Provider organizations and DSPs need more support to address this systemic failure of the service system. This project is one of our efforts to do so. Having a well-trained and well-paid DSP workforce

is an investment in the health of our state. You can find out more about this topic on our policy webpage at

https://gcdd.arkansas.gov/council/legislation-public-policy/ .

Community Events

There's always something exciting happening on the

Community Connections Calendar - Check it out!

• October 24 - The Top Floor to the Front Door Business Inclusion Summit

• October 28 - Adults on the Autism Spectrum Support Group

• October 31 - Halloween! Have fun and be safe! 🎃

The News Corner

• Teenager born with Cerebral Palsy wins American Ninja Warrior 🎥
• There's still time to reserve your seat at The Arc's National Convention 🎟️
• $35 million pledged in support of children with disabilities 🏫
• Opinion: How to be more inclusive in the workplace - Forbes 💡

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GCDD shares insightful articles and resources on LinkedIn to help community members, business owners and leaders in Arkansas become better advocates.

SHARE YOUR STORY

Have you participated in one of our activities or funded program activities (training, events, etc.)? We would love to hear your story. Please share the impact that participating in our sponsored activity made in your life!

Download and fill it out electronically (or print the form, fill it out, scan it) and email it to our staff at ddcstaff@dfa.arkansas.gov to submit your story. You can even mail it to our office at Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities Arkansas, 1515 W. 7th Street, Suite 320-330 Little Rock, AR 72201



Thank you!