Year of Grant Award:

2004

Project Title:

Support Providing Employees' Association of Kentucky (SPEAK)

Grantee:

Seven Counties Services, Inc.

Primary Grantee Contact:

Sandra A. Mlinarcik

Project Director, Seven Counties Services, Inc.

smlinarc@sevencounties.org

Hypotheses:

• Pre-service orientation that focuses on personal interactions will increase retainment of DSWs beyond probationary period of 3 months.
• An apprenticeship period that focuses on problem-solving competencies will extend the retainment of DSWs beyond 6 months.
• Connection to broad array of community supports will help stabilize the personal lives of DSWs and contribute to sustained employment for 18 months or more.
• Regional collaboration on behalf of DSWs will attract new partners to membership in SPEAK as a result of reduced turnover rates and improved quality of care.

Interventions:

• Institute pre-service orientation / realistic job preview process for job candidates.
• Design and implement extended apprenticeship program for new employees.
• Offer workers benefits of membership in Support Providing Employee’s Association of Kentucky (SPEAK).
• Conduct public education campaign about SPEAK and the importance of DSWs.

Evaluator:

Harold Kleinert

Human Development Institute University of Kentucky

Read about:

Click here to read Speak Manual, a guide for direct support professionals.

Click here for the Speak brochure.

Click here to read Speak the News, a publication for direct support professionals.

Kentucky's DSP Job Satisfaction Questionnare

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