In September 2024, CQL featured Vocational Training Center (VTC), highlighting its ‘Roadmap To Success’ program. The program has provided new employees with a comprehensive onboarding process spanning 18 months, including job shadowing, training, peer support, mentorship, and more. During National Direct Support Professional Recognition Week in 2026, we’re checking in with Vocational Training Center (VTC) for an update about their program.
Submitted By: Amy Schultz, HR Director & Scott Burtsfield, Executive Director, Vocational Training Center
VTC’s Roadmap to Success Program grew out of a commitment made during the organization’s 2016 CQL Accreditation review; build structured support for new employees across their entire first 18 months on the job – not just their first week. The program front-loads a full month of orientation – two weeks of classroom instruction paired with mentor shadowing, followed by two weeks of “reverse shadowing” where new hires take on responsibilities under supervision and meet individually with case managers. From there, the remaining 17 months continue with ongoing mentor and peer support and regular supervisor check-ins.
“The mentors were amazing. The two-week shadow period mixed in with trainings was so helpful to implement what I just learned right away.”
Allie, DSP, Vocational Training Center (VTC)
The Impact Of The Roadmap To Success Program
Since the article was published, VTC has continued to formally track the Roadmap program’s effectiveness through employee surveys administered at the 1-month, 3-month, 6-month, and 1-year marks. This ongoing feedback has consistently shown strong new-hire satisfaction, a lasting appreciation for the program’s mentorship model, and steady improvement in employees’ comfort with day-to-day systems and technology as they move through their first year.
Survey feedback has also surfaced a clear employee interest in additional professional development and career advancement opportunities – a theme that emerges specifically at the 1-year mark, suggesting that employees who reach that milestone are already invested in their role and are looking toward a long-term future with VTC rather than planning an exit.
In recognition of this success, VTC was invited to discuss the Roadmap to Success program on the IDD Leader podcast in March 2025.
“The orientation process has been top notch! I appreciate how it has been broken up over the course of 3 weeks. I feel I was better able to retain the information because it was spread out. I feel a part of the team already and know there is always someone nearby to answer my questions.”
Audrey, DSP, Vocational Training Center (VTC)
Benefits Across All Stakeholders
The Roadmap program has given new DSPs a broader, more in-depth knowledge base and the time to genuinely understand the people they support, before being placed into full caseloads – replacing what used to be three days of classroom training with minimal shadowing. For DSPs, the peer mentor program (with additional pay for mentor status) has created built-in career pathways and a stronger sense of community from day one. For the organization, involving supervisors, managers, case managers, and directors as trainers, has strengthened cross-departmental relationships and given leadership more visibility into the new-hire experience.
Roadmap To Success: By The Numbers
VTC’s Roadmap To Success survey data, collected at the 1-month, 3-month, 6-month, and 1-year marks between June 2024 and September 2026, provides the clearest quantitative picture of the program’s impact to date:
- New-hire satisfaction has averaged between 4.44 and 4.9 out of 5 across all four touchpoints, with no drop-off over the first year — Month 6 respondents actually reported the highest satisfaction of any wave.
- Mentorship consistently ranks as the most valued component of the program in every survey wave, and 100% of respondents at both the 1-month and 1-year marks said they would recommend employment at VTC to others.
- Employees’ comfort with workplace technology (Therap, MITC, Paycor) also improved substantially – from 72.73% reporting adequate training at the 3-month mark to 90.91% at 6 months and 83.33% at 1 year, with most remaining feedback reflecting a desire to learn more rather than a training gap.
“VTC has an excellent training program. The Roadmap to Success is just that – it’s a great path to take on your new adventure as an employee.”
Patrick, DSP, Vocational Training Center (VTC)
For historical context, VTC’s original 2024 article noted that program data was largely qualitative at that time, citing DSP promotion to mentor status in August 2021 and program supervisor in January 2022, as an early example of the mentor pipeline’s impact on career advancement.
Quick Tips For Implementing An Onboarding Program
- Get leadership buy-in first – supervisors, managers, and administration all need to be on board
- Build a dedicated committee of DSPs and leadership to drive the program
- Survey existing DSPs about their orientation experience before designing anything
- Structure orientation around job shadowing plus required and organizational training
- Train multiple trainers across departments – not just one person
- Build a peer mentor system with clear qualifications (tenure, strengths, performance)
- Create a resource binder so new hires have everything organized in one place
- Train supervisors and managers on the new process – they’ll be doing check-ins
- Build an ongoing feedback survey for new hires’ first year
- Review and refine the program continuously – don’t treat it as “done”
“This is the best training I’ve ever received at a job. Detailed, organized, and felt cared about.”
Jarrett, DSP, Vocational Training Center (VTC)
About Vocational Training Center (VTC)
For more than 60 years, Vocational Training Center (VTC) has been helping individuals with disabilities build meaningful lives, pursue greater independence, and discover what is possible when the right opportunities and supports are in place.
VTC provides a comprehensive range of services and supports, including residential services, employment and career development, day and life-enrichment opportunities, family support, and transition services. Bu our work is about much more than providing programs. We believe services should be a starting point – not the destination.
VTC’s success is not measured simply by the number of services we provide. It is measured by what happens because of those services – a first paycheck, a new friendship, greater independence, a discovered talent, a meaningful role in the community, or the confidence to pursue something new.
You can learn more about VTC by visiting the website: https://www.fargovtc.org/
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Since 1969, CQL | The Council on Quality and Leadership has been a leader in working with human service organizations and systems to continuously define, measure, and improve quality of life and quality of services for youth, adults, and older adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and psychiatric disabilities. CQL offers accreditation, training, certification, research, and consultation services to agencies that share our vision of dignity, opportunity, and community for all people.
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Vocational Training Center Continues To Provide ‘Roadmap To Success’ For DSPs