Continuing Education

Crotched Mountain is an organization committed to individual growth and learning, and we extend that commitment to our staff. As part of our benefits package, we offer a wide range of continuing education and certification courses to help our educators, nurses, direct support professionals, residential staff and supervisors deepen their knowledge and advance their careers. Employees can choose to take individual courses or participate in training pathways leading to specific certifications. Educational opportunities include:

Orientation

All new employees receive a thorough orientation covering federal, state and organizational regulations. Orientation takes place in a relaxed and supportive environment, which ensures the highest quality of professionalism and sets the stage for positive staff relationships.

Mandt System

Teachers, paraeducators, nurses, direct support professionals and administrators at Crotched Mountain are trained in the Mandt System®, which offers specific skills and strategies for resolving and preventing conflicts. Mandt techniques are used throughout our facilities, both for staff-client and staff-staff interactions.

CARD – Centers for Autism and Related Disorders

CARD is among the world's largest autism treatment organizations, offering cutting-edge continuing education curricula based on Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). Crotched Mountain employees can earn Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) credits by participating in a variety of CARD classes offered at Crotched Mountain.

Enhancing Skills of Paraeducators (ESP)

ESP is a video-assisted training program designed to enhance the basic knowledge and performance skills of paraeducators and paraprofessionals. The program covers a wide variety of instructional situations for students in grades K-12 with a range of disabilities.

College of Direct Support

The College of Direct Support (CDS) offers web-based courses for direct support professionals and others who support individuals with disabilities. The flexible, on-line coursework is designed to improve professional skills and offer a clear path for career advancement. Employees can choose from a variety of classes and be among the first nationally-credentialed Direct Support Professionals in New Hampshire.

Apprenticeship for Direct Support Professionals

The Apprenticeship Program is a nationally-recognized, registered program based on competency-based National Skill Standards. Apprenticeship combines on-the-job learning, mentoring and related instruction.

Defensive Driving

Employees who drive clients as a part of their job are required to take a four-hour course in safe driving. The course is offered twice a month (one weekday and one weekend day) and covers safe driving techniques, tips and tools to prevent collisions and violations. The course includes completing and passing a practical demonstration of driving skills.

American Heart Association – Basic Life Support Training for Nurses

All nurses employed at Crotched Mountain are required to take a three to five-hour training program in Basic Life Support. The course provides healthcare professionals with the ability to recognize several life-threatening emergencies, provide CPR, use an automated external defibrillator (AED), and relieve choking in a safe, timely and effective manner.

American Heart Association – Heartsaver CPR/AED and First Aid

All other direct support staff at Crotched Mountain are required to take the American Heart Association's Heartsaver® First Aid CPR AED, a classroom, video-based, instructor-led course that teaches critical skills needed to respond to and manage a first aid, choking or sudden cardiac arrest emergency in the first few minutes until emergency medical services (EMS) arrives. Students learn how to treat bleeding, sprains, broken bones, shock and other first aid emergencies. This course also teaches adult CPR and AED use. Non-direct Crotched Mountain staff may also elect to take the course.

College Courses through Granite State College

Crotched Mountain staff can take a variety of courses for college credit through Granite State College, part of the University System of New Hampshire. Many employees choose classes to improve their skills and to apply toward certifications such as Paraeducator II and Autism. Crotched Mountain also offers training programs for residential staff through a partnership between Granite State College and the NH Division for Children, Youth and Families.

These are just some of the continuing education opportunities available to our staff. For more information, contact Continuing Education at CEDU@crotchedmountain.org.