Special to IFN
RALEIGH — As part of its Direct Support Professional Workforce Plan, the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services is announcing $3 million to recruit and retain direct support professionals.
This workforce is critical in helping people with intellectual and developmental disabilities live, work and thrive in communities of their choice. They provide a wide range of supports from daily tasks like bathing, eating and taking medications to connecting people with community resources and opportunities.
“Every person in North Carolina should have the support they need to thrive in their communities,” said N.C. Health and Human Services Secretary Dev Sangvai. “We must prioritize and invest in the workforce that is charged with caring for people. Not only to ensure individuals and families have the right care when and where they need it, but also for the long-term well being of our state.”
As part of the investment, the department awarded more than 140 provider agencies and employers of record with grants to recruit, support, train and retain direct support professionals (DSP). The grants will be distributed this year and directly improve the working lives of DSPs through programs such as hiring and retention bonuses, on-the-job training and child care assistance.
“Direct support professionals are essential in helping people with I/DD live and work in the communities of their choosing,” said Kelly Crosbie, director of the NCDHHS Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Use Services. “These efforts are one part of a multi-faceted plan to create a workforce pipeline and give employers the tools they need to recruit and retain a strong, well-qualified DSP workforce to help as many people with I/DD as possible.”
In addition to the provider grants, NCDHHS is funding several pilot programs that are launching later this year. The projects include the development of a wage protection program for full-time direct support professionals and career advancement opportunities, a DSP recruitment multi-media campaign, and implementing an HR onboarding system to streamline employment for DSPs. There are also two DSP mentoring programs that are launching this year, one focusing on peer-to-peer mentoring and the other program focusing on leadership-to-DSP mentoring.
A second round of DSP incentives that focus on recruitment, retention and training will be made available in spring of 2025. Applicants that submitted proposals previously will be eligible to apply again as long as the proposals fall under the recruitment, retention or training program type. The NCDHHS Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Use Services will announce the opening of the second round of DSP incentives soon.
These efforts are part of the DSP Workforce Plan that aligns with NCDHHS’ Inclusion Connects, which is dedicated to connecting people with I/DD to more choices and more access to services and supports. The department is committed to creating a more accessible and supportive North Carolina, enabling people with I/DD to live more independently and participate fully in the community of their choice.