Articles and Papers

• A Synthesis of Direct Service Workforce Demographics and Challenges Across Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities, Aging, Physical Disabilities, and Behavioral Health - This paper provides an overview of the direct support workforce challenges across disability sectors and it provides a call or action regarding these issues that is agreed upon and applicable across disability sectors. This paper was developed as an activity of the national DSW Resource Center that is funded by CMS. (2008)
• Using Medicaid Home and Community Based Services or ICF/MR Funding to Pay for Direct Support Staff Training and Credentialing Programs - Many states are facing significant challenges in assuring the availability of sufficient numbers of direct support practitioners with adequate professional preparation to promote the health and well-being of Medicaid recipients. To meet these challenges, some states are investing in the development of educational, training and credentialing programs for the direct support workforce to create career paths and retention incentives for new and incumbent workers. A persistent barrier to implementing effective workforce development programs is the ability for states, and human services organizations to pay for training programs and related wage incentives. One promising strategy to confront this challenge is the structuring of Medicaid reimbursement rates to support the human resource development interventions essential to a stable and competent workforce. (2009)
• National Validation Study of Competencies For Frontline Supervisors and Direct Support Professionals - This study examined organizational workforce outcomes; characteristics of and differences between managers, Frontline Supervisors (FLS) and Direct Support Professionals (DSPs); and workplace competencies, training needs, and timing of training for FLS and DSPs. Using survey methodologies, the study validated nationally the results of two comprehensive Minnesota analyses of competencies needed by DSPs and FLS, extending the existing analyses by sampling direct support professionals (DSPs), first-line supervisors (FLS) and managers in 77 agencies in five states. (2007)
  • Full Report (with appendices)
  • Full Report (without appendices)
  • Validation Report-Appendix A
  • Validation Report-Appendix B
  • Validation Report-Appendix C
  • Validation Report-Appendix D
  • Validation Report-Appendix E
• Report to Congress on the Supply of Direct Support Professionals Serving Individuals with Intellectual and Other Developmental Disabilities - This is a Report submitted to Congress on the supply and demand of direct support professionals needed to serve people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (ID/DD). (2006)
• CMS Direct Service Workforce Demonstration Promising Practices in Marketing, Recruitment and Selection Interventions - The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) initiated a Demonstration to Improve the Direct Service Community Workforce to test the effectiveness of different workforce interventions on the retention and recruitment of Direct Service Workers (DSWs). This report identifies promising practices in direct service worker marketing, recruitment, and selection across the CMS grantees. Under a contract to provide technical assistance to the DSW grantees in collaboration with The Lewin Group (Lewin), the Research and Training Center developed this report. (2006)
• Issues in the Direct Support Workforce and their Connections to the Growth, Sustainability and Quality of Community Supports - Difficulties in assuring adequate direct support staff recruitment, retention and competence are widely reported as the single biggest barrier to the growth, sustainability, and quality of community services for people with developmental disabilities. This paper explores the complexity of the direct support workforce crisis, the effects of this crisis on various stakeholder groups and potential strategies to address them. (2001)
• Minnesota Waiver Report - An independent evaluation of the quality of services and system performance of Minnesota's Medicaid home and community based services for persons with mental retardation and related conditions. (2000)
• Brief Summary
• Executive Summary
• Full Report
• Impact - A quarterly newsletter containing articles that focus on areas related to persons with developmental disabilities.
• Feature Issue on Direct Support Workforce Development (1998)
• Personnel Initiative '97: A Comprehensive Workforce Development Plan for Human Service Workers - This document identifies specific short and long-term strategies to address challenges in the human service direct support workforce and makes recommendations regarding legislative action that would be necessary to carry out these solutions. (1997)
• Recruitment Issues for Minnesota Agencies Serving People with Developmental Disabilities or Severe and Persistent Mental Illness: Final Report Executive Summary - This study describes recruitment challenges faced by 144 randomly selected residential, vocational, in-home support, and mental health agencies in Minnesota (of 488 eligible agencies). (1997)
• Policy Research Brief - A newsletter summarizing research on policy issues affecting persons with developmental disabilities.
• Issue on National Voluntary Credentialing for Direct Service Workers (1996)
• Issue on Training Issues for Direct Service Personnel Working in Community Residential Programs for Persons with Developmental Disabilities (1994)