Employment and Community First CHOICES Workforce QuILTSS Initiative Survey 2019: Year Two Report

Organization Staffing

The organizations who responded to the survey reported supporting 12,752 people with disabilities and employed a total of 17,620 staff.  This included:

  • 12,975 DSPs
  • 1,182 frontline supervisors (FLSs)
  • 667 managers
  • 1,046 administrators, and
  • 1,750 other staff.

The East region had 1,706 people served by 20 organizations with supports from 1,950 DSPs and 210 FLSs.  There were 96 managers, 217 administrators, and 369 other staff.  There were 2,842 total staff in the East.  In the Middle region, there were 7,404 people served by 33 organizations with supports from 5,481 DSPs and 379 FLSs. There were 21 managers, 68 administrators, and 544 other staff.  There were 7,469 total staff in the Middle. For the West region, there were 3,642 people served by 21 organizations with supports from 5,544 DSPs and 593 FLSs.  There were 411 managers, 436 administrators, and 325 other staff. There were 7,309 total staff in the West.

Figure 4. Number of people served and staff by position statewide

people served

12,752

DPSs

12,975

FLS

1,182

managers

667

administrative

1,046

other staff

1,750

On average across the state, organizations employed 175 DSPs, including on-call, temporary, and relief positions, 16 FLSs, 9 managers, 14 administrators (e.g., administrative, executive director, human resources/payroll), and 24 other employees.

Organizations were asked to report the number of full-time, part-time, and on-call DSPs they employ.  Because some organizations do not distinguish between full- and part-time DSPs, this was also an option.  Across the state, 61% were full-time DSPs, 27% were part-time, 9% were not distinguished between part-time and full-time, and 3% were on-call/temporary or relief staff.  Forty-seven percent of DSPs worked across more than one service type. Figure 5 shows this DSP staffing pattern in the state.

Figure 5. Statewide staffing pattern of DSPs

on-call/temp

not distinguished

part-time

full-time

3%

9%

27%

61%

There were some regional differences in DSP staffing patterns.

  • In the East, 80% were full-time, 17% were part-time, 2% not distinguished part- time or full-time, and 1% on-call/temporary or relief staff. Forty-six percent of the DSPs worked across more than one service type.
  • In the Middle, 59% were full-time, 33% were part-time, 7% not distinguished part-time or full-time, and 1% on-call/temporary or relief staff. Fifty-seven percent of the DSPs worked across more than one service type.
  • In the West, 58% of DSPs were full-time, 25% were part-time, 12% not distinguished part-time or full-time, and 5% on-call/temporary or relief staff. Thirty-six percent of the DSPs worked across more than one service type.

Organizations were asked how they defined part-time and full-time positions.  Of the 73 organizations responding, 21% of organizations across the state indicated that they could not differentiate between full-time and part-time DSPs; most organizations defined their part-time and full-time positions by the number of hours worked per week.  Of the 60 organizations who specified the number of hours per week a DSP needs to work to be considered full-time, 38% required DSPs to work at least 30-34 hours, 27% at least 35-39 hours, and 33% at least 40 hours per week.  One organization selected the other category, but did not specify the number of hours.  For the East region, of the 17 organizations who specified the number of hours per week a DSP needs to work to be considered full-time, 52% required DSPs to work at least 30-34 hours, 24% at least 35-39 hours, and 24% at least 40 hours per week.  One organization selected the other category, but did not specify the number of hours.  For the Middle region, of the 26 organizations who specified the number of hours per week a DSP needs to work to be considered full-time, 35% required DSPs to work at least 30-34 hours, 27% at least 35-39 hours, 35% at least 40 hours per week, and 3% selected the other category, but did not specify the number of hours.  For the West region, of the 17 organizations who specified the number of hours per week a DSP needs to work to be considered full-time, 29% required DSPs to work at least 30-34 hours, 29% at least 35-39 hours, and 42% at least 40 hours per week.