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Feature Issue on Direct Support Workforce Development
From the Editors
Clearly, the quality of services and supports provided to people with developmental disabilities is directly related to the quality of their direct support providers. Yet, as we have heard time and again from people with developmental disabilities, their family members, advocates, and provider agencies, finding and keeping quality direct support staff is a daunting task. Although it has always been challenging to cultivate a quality workforce, it is especially difficult when community services are growing rapidly, the economy is healthy, and the unemployment rate is low.
This issue of Impact briefly outlines current workforce development challenges. In addition, several direct support providers and people with developmental disabilities describe the importance of finding solutions to these problems. It also provides several examples of creative strategies used by provider agencies, educators, and others to enhance and improve the recruitment, retention, and training of direct support staff.
We hope that in reading these pages service providers and policymakers will find practical tips for improving the lives of people with developmental disabilities by improving workforce development practices. We also hope this issue will stimulate continued sharing of ideas regarding solutions to workforce development challenges.
What’s Inside
Overview of Issues
Good Staff, Bad Staff, No Staff At All: Advice From Two Consumers
People Need People: The Direct Service Workforce
Sidebar: Direct Care Realities...
Strategies
A Call to Exemplary Service / Sidebar: Community Support Skill Standards Competency Areas
Assessing Workplace Recruitment and Retention: The First Steps
Expanding the Direct Service Workforce: Possibilities Through School-to-Work /
Sidebar: A School-to-Work Example: Work-Based Learning and Skill Standards at Tyngsborough High School
Reducing Turnover: The VNCC Approach
Turning it Around
Peer Mentoring: Mission – Possible
Providing Culturally Competent Services
Strategies for Addressing Workforce Issues
A New Perspective on Training at Dungarvin
Training the Trainer: Minimizing Expense, Maximizing Skill
Collaborative Training: The MATC Program
Self-Directed Work Teams: An International Learning Experience at Vinfen
The National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals
Resources
Web Sites Related to Direct Support Workforce Development
Publication Information
Managing Editor: Vicki Gaylord
Issue Editors: Amy Hewitt
Research and Training Center on Community Living
University of Minnesota, Minneapolis Sheryl A. Larson
Research and Training Center on Community Living
University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
Impact is published quarterly by the Institute on Community Integration (University Affiliated Program), and the Research and Training Center on Community Living, College of Education and Human Development, University of Minnesota. This issue was supported, in part, by Grant #90DD032301 from the Administration on Developmental Disabilities, US Department of Health and Human Services; and Grant #H133B30072 from the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, US Department of Education.
The opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Institute, College, University, or their funding sources. For additional information contact:
Institute on Community Integration
University of Minnesota
109 Pattee Hall, 150 Pillsbury Drive SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455
612/624-4512
612/624-9344
icipub@umn.edu
Impact is available in alternative formats upon request.
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Retrieved from the Web site of the Institute on Community Integration, University of Minnesota (http://ici.umn.edu). Citation: Gaylord, V., Hewitt, A., & Larson, S. (Eds.). (1998). Impact: Feature Issue on Direct Support Workforce Development, 10(4) [online]. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota, Institute on Community Integration. Available from http://ici.umn.edu/products/impact/104/.
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Hard copies of Impact are available from the Publications Office of the Institute on Community Integration. The first copy of this issue is free; additional copies are $4 each. You can request copies by phone at 612/624-4512 or e-mail at icipub@umn.edu, or you can fax or mail us an order form. See our listing of other issues of Impact for more information.
The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity employer and educator.
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