Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Direct Service Staff Turnover In Supported Living Arrangements: Preliminary Results And Observations, Steve Seninger Ph.D., Meg A. Traci Ph.D., University Of Montana Rural Institute Rural Institute

Health and Wellness

High turnover rates mean that community providers of services to individuals with developmental disabilities may be replacing almost their entire direct service workforces each year. This instability imposes significant costs on each provider for recruiting, screening, and training replacement workers. It also adversely affects the quality of care provided to individuals served by community providers. Although the relationship requires further study, caregiver continuity appears to be an important factor in the health of an individual with developmental disabilities. The following observations are based on completed Corporation Questionnaires from seven Montana developmental disabilities service providers.