Each September, agencies nationwide honor and celebrate direct support professionals (DSPs) during DSP Recognition Week, September 10 – 16. Many individuals working as DSPs are the heart and soul of caregiving agencies. Without them, organizations that serve individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) could not function. This is why Direct Care Innovations encourages you to creatively express your gratitude for the hard-working individuals who make a true difference in your clients’ lives. Using the ideas below or a few of your own, your DSPs will feel appreciated and respected.

Collect Thank You Notes

Sometimes personalized gifts are the best ones, and thank you notes are the ideal personalized gift. Collect thank you cards from clients who wish to express gratitude for their caregivers and then share them with each DSP. Clients’ families may also wish to write a personal note as they may be grateful for the care and attention their loved ones receive. 

Hand out Swag Bags

Everybody seems to enjoy swag. Show your appreciation for your DSPs by handing out gift bags of branded items from your caregiving organization. Consider including water bottles, insulated mugs, hoodies or jackets, backpacks or tote bags, and journals or notebooks. Make it special by adding healthy snacks or a gift card to a local coffee shop.

Host an Escape Room Event

Escape rooms have become a popular way to spend time together as a team. They’re fun, challenging, and great for building camaraderie. Since DSPs may not work a typical Monday through Friday shift, plan a few different event times so all DSPs can attend. If you can find a Halloween or fall-themed escape room, those would fit perfectly with this time of year. 

Plan a Family Day

Speaking of fall, DSP Recognition Week is an ideal time of year to plan an outdoor family day for your DSPs. There are several events you can plan for families in the fall, such as:

• going to an apple orchard and picking apples together
• visiting a pumpkin patch and allowing the kids to take home pumpkins
• buying tickets to a local fall festival for DSPs and their families to spend time together 
• planning a scenic train ride to view the beautiful changing colors of fall
• treating DSPs and their families to a day trip at a local zoo 

Thank Your DSPs Today

Above all, tell your DSPs that you appreciate their hard work, dedication, and compassionate care for the individuals they serve. You can also help your team work more effectively with our business management solutions for caregiving agencies. With EVV software, a training and compliance tracker, and a care management module, your employees can provide superior care for the clients you serve. Contact DCI by calling (480) 295-3307, or request a sales demo today.

Source: ” Direct Support Professional Recognition Week 2023.” Web page. ANCOR. Web. 12 Sep. 2023.