Mandy (Miranda) VanWormer, a staff development and training coordinator at Springbrook, beams about her passion for the work she does every day, especially for the people she supports. “I come to work and enjoy what I do,” she enthusiastically shares. Mandy has worked at Springbrook since 2012, with a brief period of time exploring other professional industries, but her heart has always been with the people supported at Springbrook. Because of her passion for her work, Mandy was inspired to pursue the Springbrook Training and Education Program (STEP), referred to more recently as the Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) Credentialing program.

Springbrook and SUNY Oneonta have partnered together to offer this credential program with courses that build work-based skills relevant to human services, specifically supporting people with developmental disabilities. Mandy is currently enrolled in the summer session cohort of approximately 15 staff members at Springbrook. “This program has helped build camaraderie between the people throughout Community Homes, The School, and all the Springbrook departments,” Mandy remarks. The program offers in-person and online learning experiences in the evenings on designated days of the week. The cohort works together to navigate the required projects and assignments which Mandy comments has made her progress in the program successful. She explains that in moments of uncertainty, she reaches out to her fellow colleagues, and they share words of encouragement. “They’ll text me back and say, ‘Yeah, you got this!’ Everyone is so supportive,” she says. Mandy comments on how the program has afforded her the opportunity to maintain a better work-life balance. Mandy adds that the instructors are “phenomenal” and it has brought “people together,” in a safe environment for learning and communication.

Mandy hopes, with the completion of this program, to continue using the skills and knowledge gained to pursue her goals of moving upward into roles that continue to work directly with people supported at Springbrook.