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

Sandra L. Pettingell; Julie Bershadsky; Lynda Lahti Anderson; Amy Hewitt; John Reagan; Alicia Zhang

doi:10.1352/1934-9556-61.3.197

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

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-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 language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	197-210
Number of pages	14
Journal	Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
Volume	61
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1352/1934-9556-61.3.197
State	Published - 2023

Bibliographical note

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

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

Keywords

COVID-19
IDD
direct support professionals
frontline supervisors
workforce issues

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10.1352/1934-9556-61.3.197

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

Abstract

Bibliographical note

UN SDGs

Keywords

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