Job Opportunity with Partner Agencies: Direct Support Professionals

Assist a team of passionate and caring people who make a difference in people’s lives. Agency providers in Athens County are now hiring temporary Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) to provide direct care to those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This may be in a group home, home-like setting.

What is a Direct Support Professional (or DSP)?

  • DSPs help people live, learn, work, and play in their communities.
  • This video may also be helpful.
  • In addition, hear directly from Gary Levox from Rascal Flatts about his experiences working as a DSP.


DSPs support individuals where they live by:

  • Helping them live as independently as possible
  • Helping ensure they are healthy and safe
  • Helping with daily life activities like cooking, cleaning, dressing, bathing, shopping, transportation and community activities

DSPs support individuals during the day by:

  • Taking small groups into the community for volunteer and leisure activities
  • Teaching independence and safety skills
  • Encouraging them to try new things, make more choices, and get involved in more activities and hobbies

DSPs support individuals in finding and keeping jobs by:

  • Helping them identify talents, interests, goals and abilities to discover long-term jobs
  • Providing one-on-one marketing and recruitment services to connect them with employers
  • Providing job coaching, on-site support and training at employment sites

What standards are expected of a direct support professional?
To work as a DSP, individuals must:

  • Be 18 years old. (Under currently waived rules, DSPs can be 16 or 17 and provide a limited scope of service.)
  • Have a valid social security number and either state of Ohio identification, a valid driver’s license or other government-issued photo identification.
  • Have a minimum of a high school diploma or general education development certificate. (This requirement may be waived for 16- or 17-year-olds.)
  • Be able to read, write and understand English.
  • Have a driving record with less than six points. (Some employment opportunities may be available for non-drivers.)
  • Have a background free of offenses that preclude employment. (Review this document for a current list of exclusions.)
  • Pass a drug screen. (This is required for those who drive to and from day services and per employer specific policy.)

Who are our local providers?
Below is the list of local providers who currently offer DSP services to individuals in Athens County.

Agency providers (listed in alphabetical order):

  • Active Day
  • Better Care Services
  • Britney Healthcare
  • Buckeye Community Services
  • Caregiver Homes of Ohio
  • COD Healthcare Services
  • Dignified Home Care
  • Echoing Hills
  • Expanding Your Horizons
  • Fairfield Community Supports
  • Goodwill Industries
  • Guardian Trac
  • Happy Healthy Me
  • HAVAR
  • Hearty Hearts Home
  • Helping Hands Home Healthcare
  • Homewatch Caregivers
  • Inclusions
  • Independent Beginnings
  • Nina’s Home Health Care
  • Omega Healthcare Services
  • Red Door
  • ResCare
  • RHDD
  • Sech-Kar
  • SOAR
  • Stepping Stone Health Services
  • Vinton Industries
  • Zion Home Healthcare Services

Independent providers:

  • An independent provider is a self-employed person who directly provides services to people with developmental disabilities.
  • Independent providers must be at least 18 years old, have a valid Social Security number, and a form of identification.
  • In addition, independent providers must have a high school diploma or GED and be able to read, write, and understand English at a level sufficient to comply with all requirements set forth in administrative rules governing the services provided.
  • More information can be found here.
  • A list of local independent providers can be made available upon request.

If you are interested or wish to learn more, please contact:
Audra Harrison, SSA Manager for the ACBDD
(740) 541-9622
aharrison@athenscbdd.org