The United States is experiencing a paradox related to the care and support of individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities. As diagnoses of these disabilities increase, there are not enough people to provide the supportive care needed. As an alternative to researching turnover for human service professionals, this study investigated why human service professionals choose to stay in these demanding roles. Using a phenomenological approach, human service professionals in a large, midwestern, nonprofit developmental disability services organization participated in an investigation of their lived experiences. This action research paper explored the experiences of longer tenured employees, as well as new employees entering the system, and the decisions that led to them to stay with the organization. With an emphasis on the first hundred days of employment, an intervention was created to influence elements of retention. Participants then evaluated the program and its impact on their retention decisioning process. Data was collected and analyzed via focus groups, follow-up interviews, pre-tests and post-tests using the Work and Meaning Inventory and the Perceived Person Environment Fit Scale. The predominant qualitative theme for all participants was the need for emotional support during disorienting experiences. While quantitative data suggests the intervention did not have a statistically significant impact on the pre-test versus post-test scores, retention was improved by 21.5%.

Creator

• Peters-Reece, Jennifer M.

Language

• English

Keyword

• developmental and intellectual disabilities

• supportive care

• human service professionals

• action research

• retention

• Work and Meaning Inventory

• Perceived Person Environment Fit Scale

Date created

• 2024

Resource type

• Capstone Project

Rights statement

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/