News Report | August 5, 2020
COVID-19 Intensifies Workforce Shortage Of I/DD Direct Support Professionals
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) emergency has compounded the workforce shortage of direct support professionals (DSPs) who assist people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). During 2018, the turnover rate of I/DD DSPs was 50%. In the same year, full-time vacancy rates were nearly 15%, and part-time vacancy rates were 18%. A recent survey of DSPs between April 23 and May 27, 2020, found that 26% reported their employers were more short-staffed than before COVID-19. About 42% reported having a colleague who quit due to COVID-19. Of those who quit during COVID . . .