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MACS 2019 DSS Conference Recap

By Stephanie Bell, MBA

Providing ongoing education to our Direct Support Profes- focus on what DSPs should expect if they ever become

sionals (DSPs) has always been a priority for EPIC. One of involved in an incident investigation and EPIC CEO, Clarissa

the annual events we utilize for this purpose is the MACS Mitchell, presented a very popular session on what DSPs

Direct Support and Supervision Conference, which is a can do now to position themselves for career

three-day event usually held in Ocean City, MD. Arguably advancement in the field.

the best conference for DSPs in the nation, the event has a

full day of sessions geared towards front line supervisors, Other notable speakers included, Joseph Macbeth, Execu-

a day and a half of sessions for DSPs, and an awards din- tive Director for the National Alliance for Direct Support

ner for star supervisors and DSPs from around the state. Professionals (NADSP) whose plenary speech explored the

I am proud to say that during the 2018 conference, EPIC topic of how to raise the bar for DSPs. NADSP is an organi-

had a DSP award winner, Margaret Summers, who was zation that works to elevate the status of DSPs, so Mr.

also one of my staff. Macbeth was well versed on the topic. Session topics also

included DSP involvement in the state’s new Person Cen-

By all accounts 2019 was one of the best conferences ever. tered Planning process, preventing staff burnout, trauma

I can say that because I am an eleven-year veteran of the informed support, and personal finance strategies. There

MACS Conference Planning Committee, a group that con- were also sessions led by people with intellectual and de-

sists of MACS staff and DDA providers who plan confer- velopmental disabilities that discussed the impact of DSPs

ence sessions and assist during the conference to ensure and support services on their lives.

all sessions run smoothly.

Our Direct Support Professionals are critical to the success

This year’s conference was held from April 15 through of the people we support and through events like the

April 17 and the theme was The Art of Balance. EPIC has MACS Direct Support and Supervision Conference EPIC

been a supporter of this conference for several years and helps our team to provide quality, mission driven services

this year we had not one, but two session presenters. I led every day. Thanks MACS.

a session discussing the entire investigative process with a

Stephanie Bell, MBA, is the Director of Individualized Supports at EPIC. A member of the MACS Confer-
ence Planning Committee who also Chairs the State of Maryland’s Mortality Quality Review Committee,
Stephanie has over eighteen years of experience supporting people with intellectual and
other developmental disabilities in the Baltimore–Washington metropolitan area.

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