Community Interactions, Inc
Community Interactions, Inc Headquarters Address
740 S. Chester Road
Swarthmore, PA 19081
(view in map)
Community Interactions, Inc Photos
About Community Interactions, Inc
Community Interactions, Inc. (CI) is an organization that provides person-centered services to individuals with autism, intellectual disabilities, and dual-diagnosed behavioral health challenges. Founded in 1971, the organizational vision was inspired by our founder’s brother who lived in an institutional setting for people with intellectual disabilities. The focus was on providing programs, services, and supports that facilitated community integration and self-determination for individuals with intellectual disabilities and behavioral health challenges. The vision was to create a private, non-profit, community organization in less restrictive settings.
Become A Direct Support Professional!Our dedicated Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) work to ensure that the over 250 people CI supports are kept safe, receive the proper level of care, and are provided with opportunities to live meaningful and productive lives in the community. DSPs are so much more than caregivers; they are advocates, teachers, companions and friends, and the backbone of person-centered, community-based care. Their job is complex and demands skills, knowledge, ethical judgment, and the ability to establish trust and mutual respect that foster community and inclusion.
Working with our Individuals is both a rewarding and challenging opportunity. Our individuals depend on their DSPs to show up on time, to be ready and willing to assist with their needs, and to support them with patience and understanding as they develop new skills. DSPs are the "boots on the ground." As a DSP, you will know the individuals you work with better than anyone else. You will learn the Individual's preferences and specific needs, and the Individual will learn to trust you to provide them with guidance and support as they engage in choices.
If you chose to become a DSP, you will have a direct and significant impact on the lives of the people you support. Your work will be difficult at times, but everyday when you go home, you will know that your work had a meaningful impact on the life of the person you support.
Many of our Part Time and Flexible Schedule/PRN employees find their work with our supported Individuals to be a rewarding way to earn additional income, as variable hour shifts allow for the flexibility working parents and professionals need. Our Full Time and eligible Part Time employees also receive comprehensive benefits (see below).
CI Benefit and Growth OpportunitiesWorking with our Individuals is both a rewarding and challenging opportunity. Our individuals depend on their DSPs to show up on time, to be ready and willing to assist with their needs, and to support them with patience and understanding as they develop new skills. DSPs are the "boots on the ground." As a DSP, you will know the individuals you work with better than anyone else. You will learn the Individual's preferences and specific needs, and the Individual will learn to trust you to provide them with guidance and support as they engage in choices.
If you chose to become a DSP, you will have a direct and significant impact on the lives of the people you support. Your work will be difficult at times, but everyday when you go home, you will know that your work had a meaningful impact on the life of the person you support.
Many of our Part Time and Flexible Schedule/PRN employees find their work with our supported Individuals to be a rewarding way to earn additional income, as variable hour shifts allow for the flexibility working parents and professionals need. Our Full Time and eligible Part Time employees also receive comprehensive benefits (see below).
CI offers competitive salaries and a comprehensive benefits package for qualifying employees.
Our current minimum starting rate for all Direct Support Professionals is $12.75 hour, with certain positions having higher rates based on Supported Individuals needs, DSP certifications, and/or Employee Status.
Base Benefits Packages for Full-Time Direct Support Professionals are valued at over $20,000 and include:
High Quality, Competitively-priced comprehensive medical and dental benefits through Aetna Network
Medical Benefits include low- and no- deductible plans. (Our HMO plan has a $500 deductible, $1600 out of pocket max, and starts at $48/pp for single coverage!)
All medical plans are inclusive of Vision and Prescription benefits - no separate enrollment or cost
Excellent employer match on 401(k) - up to 50% match on 10% of base wages!
Employer-paid Group Life Insurance
Elective Supplemental Benefits through AFLAC such as Short Term Disability and Accident Coverage
17 PTO days annually with ability to cash out PTO days
8 paid holidays
and MORE!
CI is dedicated to investing in our DSP staff. We have developed specialized curriculum and provide specialized training for our DSPs, including our own leadership development program. As a sign of our commitment to and faith in the quality of our staff development program, we are committed to posting all advancement/promotional opportunities for internal staff review. In 2018 and 2019, over 80% of vacancies for Lead Staff, Team Facilitators, and similar promotional opportunities were filled with internal staff.
We believe that our DSPs are our greatest asset. This is why we invest in the best training opportunities, provide competitive benefits, and are committed to continuing to increase our DSP starting rates. DSPs who began employment with CI in 2017 have seen over a 27.5% increase in their starting pay since they were hired.
We are committed to continuing to increase hourly rates, while providing competitive and attractive employee benefits. Our CEO is committed to providing annual across the board increases. In January of 2020, our board approved across the board increases of (the greater of) 5% or $1.00/hour increases. In January of 2021, all active employees received a 3% across the board increase. Additionally, since August 2019, CI has provided 4 supplemental 1x bonuses to all active employees.
CI's Day ProgramsOur current minimum starting rate for all Direct Support Professionals is $12.75 hour, with certain positions having higher rates based on Supported Individuals needs, DSP certifications, and/or Employee Status.
Base Benefits Packages for Full-Time Direct Support Professionals are valued at over $20,000 and include:
High Quality, Competitively-priced comprehensive medical and dental benefits through Aetna Network
Medical Benefits include low- and no- deductible plans. (Our HMO plan has a $500 deductible, $1600 out of pocket max, and starts at $48/pp for single coverage!)
All medical plans are inclusive of Vision and Prescription benefits - no separate enrollment or cost
Excellent employer match on 401(k) - up to 50% match on 10% of base wages!
Employer-paid Group Life Insurance
Elective Supplemental Benefits through AFLAC such as Short Term Disability and Accident Coverage
17 PTO days annually with ability to cash out PTO days
8 paid holidays
and MORE!
CI is dedicated to investing in our DSP staff. We have developed specialized curriculum and provide specialized training for our DSPs, including our own leadership development program. As a sign of our commitment to and faith in the quality of our staff development program, we are committed to posting all advancement/promotional opportunities for internal staff review. In 2018 and 2019, over 80% of vacancies for Lead Staff, Team Facilitators, and similar promotional opportunities were filled with internal staff.
We believe that our DSPs are our greatest asset. This is why we invest in the best training opportunities, provide competitive benefits, and are committed to continuing to increase our DSP starting rates. DSPs who began employment with CI in 2017 have seen over a 27.5% increase in their starting pay since they were hired.
We are committed to continuing to increase hourly rates, while providing competitive and attractive employee benefits. Our CEO is committed to providing annual across the board increases. In January of 2020, our board approved across the board increases of (the greater of) 5% or $1.00/hour increases. In January of 2021, all active employees received a 3% across the board increase. Additionally, since August 2019, CI has provided 4 supplemental 1x bonuses to all active employees.
CI's Day Program is a community-based program, with a focus on community integration and skill development, with the goal that individuals may someday seek employment and work in competive integrated settings. Programs and activities are tailored to meet each participant's personal goals, such as enhancing social skills or developing fiscal awareness. CI's Day Programs, in Southeastern Pennsylvania and Delaware, support skill development while ensuring meaningful community integration for participants. The vast majority of program activities take place outside of the Day Program facility, occurring in the community where Individuals interact with community members without disabilities, who are not caregivers.
A Direct Suppport Professional (DSP) working in the Day Program will develop daily activity plans which support a range of individual needs and goals, then track the individual's progress. Staff supervise and support the individuals during the daily activities, providing guidance and ensuring particpant and community safety.
Daily planned activities vary, and can include: outings to museum, local community events, or movie theatres, involvement in group activities like bowling and basketball games, or volunteer activites such as delivering food to Meals on Wheels participants.
CI's Residential ProgramsA Direct Suppport Professional (DSP) working in the Day Program will develop daily activity plans which support a range of individual needs and goals, then track the individual's progress. Staff supervise and support the individuals during the daily activities, providing guidance and ensuring particpant and community safety.
Daily planned activities vary, and can include: outings to museum, local community events, or movie theatres, involvement in group activities like bowling and basketball games, or volunteer activites such as delivering food to Meals on Wheels participants.
CI's Residential Programs support Individuals in Southeastern and Central PA, and the State of Delaware. In Residential Programs, DSPs support Individuals in their home environment. The work can be intimate, as the DSP is in the Individual's home providing support with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs).
DSPs working at a residential site provide a variety of support for individuals. At dinner time, the support may range from providing guidance and encouraging healthy meal selections, to assisting in following the steps in a recipe, to completely preparing and pureeing a meal. Despite potential restrictions, DSPs know how to adapt meal plans to ensure individuals have opportunities to optimize choice. DSPs will also assist individuals with housekeeping, nightly and morning routines, and personal hygiene. They provide safe and timely transportation to and from day programs and jobs, as well as to and from doctor's appointments, religious services, and activities with friends and family.
Because DSPs are working with individuals in their homes, Residential DSPs tend to be the best advocates for the individuals. They know the people they support better than anyone else.
DSPs working at a residential site provide a variety of support for individuals. At dinner time, the support may range from providing guidance and encouraging healthy meal selections, to assisting in following the steps in a recipe, to completely preparing and pureeing a meal. Despite potential restrictions, DSPs know how to adapt meal plans to ensure individuals have opportunities to optimize choice. DSPs will also assist individuals with housekeeping, nightly and morning routines, and personal hygiene. They provide safe and timely transportation to and from day programs and jobs, as well as to and from doctor's appointments, religious services, and activities with friends and family.
Because DSPs are working with individuals in their homes, Residential DSPs tend to be the best advocates for the individuals. They know the people they support better than anyone else.
Number of Employees in Community Interactions, Inc
501 to 1,000
Community Interactions, Inc Revenue
$5M to $25M (USD)
Industry