The Direct Support Workforce: An Examination of Direct Support Professionals and Frontline Supervisors During COVID-19

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Direct support professionals (DSPs) and frontline supervisors (FLSs) have critical roles in home and community-based services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Low wages and high levels of responsibility created a long-term crisis in recruitment and retention and are exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. A national sample of DSPs and FLSs were compared on demographics and work-related circumstances using data from the third Direct Support Workforce COVID-19 Survey. Significant differences were found in demographics, hours worked, wages, wage augmentations, and quality of work-life. Policy recommendations to address the worsening workforce crisis are provided.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)197-210
Number of pages14
JournalIntellectual and developmental disabilities
Volume61
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 2023

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 American Association on Mental Retardation. All rights reserved.

Keywords

  • COVID-19
  • IDD
  • direct support professionals
  • frontline supervisors
  • workforce issues

PubMed: MeSH publication types

  • Journal Article

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