title: Statewide study of the direct support staff workforce.
abstract: Issues of recruitment and retention related to the direct support staff and how these issues affect the lives of people with developmental disabilities were investigated. Major findings included the following: (a) High direct support staff turnover and vacancy rates have negative consequences for many people who receive supports. (b) Direct support staff provide a vast array of services and have numerous job titles and job descriptions. (c) Direct support staff are inadequately compensated and often have to work more than one job. (d) Turnover rate and recruitment is a serious problem. The need to develop the role of the direct support staff into a valued profession is discussed and considerations for research and practice are provided.
authors.affiliation: Special Education Program, The University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 9201 University City Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28223, USA. dwtest@email.uncc.edu
authors.forename: David W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Test
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Flowers
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hewitt
authors.forename: Jill
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Solow
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D016352:Group Homes; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D008873:Mid-Atlantic Region; D010558:Personnel Loyalty; D010560:Personnel Selection; D019989:Persons with Intellectual Disabilities / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D012456:Salaries and Fringe Benefits; D012944:Social Support; D012947:Social Work / Q000191:economics; D000078329:Workforce