title: Workforce Development Innovations with Direct Care Workers: Better Jobs, Better Services, Better Business.
abstract: This study describes findings from a national search to identify innovative workforce practices designed to improve the lives of direct care workers serving individuals with mental health and substance use conditions, while simultaneously improving client care, and the business vitality of the employer. The search process, conducted by The Annapolis Coalition on the Behavioral Health Workforce, resulted in the selection of five programs to receive the Pacesetter Award from among 51 nominations received. Awardees understood the value of investing in direct care workers, who constitute an essential, but often overlooked, group within the behavioral health workforce. A review of these innovations yielded six cross-cutting principles that should inform future workforce efforts (a) supporting educational and career development (b) increasing wages and benefits
authors.affiliation: Yale University School of Medicine, 300 George Street, Suite 901, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA, waynefdailey@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Wayne F
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Dailey
authors.forename: John A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Hoge
mesh_terms: D001363:Awards and Prizes; D002322:Career Mobility; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D055317:Evidence-Based Practice; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D009936:Organizational Innovation; D058996:Quality Improvement; D012456:Salaries and Fringe Benefits; D013192:Staff Development / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014481:United States; D000078329:Workforce