Maryland Intentional Overtime and Credentialing Programs Comprehensive Evaluation
- Author(s)
- Amy S Hewitt, Jack N Reagan, Sandra L Pettingell, Julie Bershadsky
PDFDescription
Effective support for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities relies on the presence of competent, qualified, and dedicated direct support staff. In Maryland, several provider organizations collaborated to develop two intensive intervention programs for DSPs – credentialing and intentional overtime. Credentialing is a retention strategy designed to provide DSPs with opportunities to gain enhanced skills and to prepare them for leadership roles within their organizations. Intentional Overtime (IOT) is a retention strategy designed to provide DSPs a guaranteed amount of overtime to ensure they are working those additional hours for their main employer and thus are less likely to work a second job for another provider. IOT results in better work-life balance for DSPs and, during the COVID-19 pandemic, proved to reduce cross-exposure and potential transmission of the virus as well as to provide staff consistency for people receiving supports. Both interventions evaluated for this project show tremendous promise in increasing wages, tenure, and opportunity for DSPs and FLSs. Participants in each program reported positive outcomes for both themselves as employees as well as for the people with IDD they support.
Details
- Date
- 2023
- Type
- Report
- Publisher
- Research and Training Center on Community Living (RTC-CL)
Topics
- Direct support workforce
- Retention and recruitment
- Workforce development strategies