Doctor of Education (Educational Leadership), Youngstown State University, 2024, Department of Teacher Education and Leadership Studies

People with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) rely on direct support professionals (DSPs) to live safe, healthy, and fulfilling lives. Provider agencies that provide services for people with IDD cannot meet the demand due to the DSP workforce crisis. The DSP workforce crisis poses a significant impact on people with IDD. Research was completed regarding the significance of the DSP workforce crisis in Ohio based on the experiences of some of the Ohio County Boards of Developmental Disabilities, which provide case management services for people with IDD. This quantitative study aimed to determine the impact of the lack of service availability or discharges precisely due to an insufficient number of DSPs. Additional data collected determined if there were any DSP capacity differences based on the size of the counties, as well as the impact the workforce crisis has on specific home and community-based services. The findings of this study found that the DSP shortages did create difficulties for people with IDD to access and maintain services. The study further found that the DSP workforce crisis worsened after March 2020 compared to what case managers experienced before March 2020. Additional data revealed that the size of the county did not have a significant effect, as all counties were experiencing the same issues related to the workforce crisis. The data also showed that services requiring around-the-clock care were more challenging to maintain adequate DSPs versus intermittent services. The research demonstrates the need for further studies to analyze the issues and develop solutions to help with the DSP workforce crisis. The data collected in these studies could benefit policymakers, IDD providers, and case managers.

Committee: Jane Beese EdD (Committee Chair); Christopher Basich EdD (Committee Member); Daniel Van Dussen PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Health Care Management; Mental Health; Public Policy; Social Work

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2017, Psychology

The current study investigated predictors of direct support providers' retention, burnout, and resilience when working with an adult with a developmental disability who engages in regular physical or verbal aggression. A final sample of 97 caregivers was surveyed at two time points separated by three months. Questionnaires were completed on caregiver psychological variables, the workplace environment, and the adult with DD's aggression, physical health, and mental health. Results found a 63% retention rate of caregivers in their role working with an aggressive adult. Severity of verbal aggression emerged as a significant predictor of caregiver retention above and beyond other forms of aggression, caregiver psychological variables such as coping styles and resilience, the work environment, and job characteristics. Interpersonal forms of aggression were significantly associated with caregiver burnout and reduced resilience. Retained caregivers reported a significant reduction in both adult with DD aggression and their own burnout compared to validation norms by Time 2. Resilience significantly mediated the effect of adult physical health needs on caregiver burnout. Resilience did not play a role in mediating the effect of adult mental health needs on caregiver burnout. Mindfulness-based coping mediated the effect of adult verbal aggression on caregivers' sense of personal accomplishment at work. Results support the need for caregivers to not only receive training on how to respond to verbal aggression and associated covert forms of aggression, but also on effective methods of coping with verbal and interpersonal aggression so as to reduce their likelihood of experiencing burnout and increasing the likelihood of their retention in their caregiving roles. In providing greater support to caregivers on the receiving end of verbal and interpersonal aggression, researchers and practitioners can help facilitate positive relationships between adults with DD and their car (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Susan Havercamp PhD (Committee Member); Luc Lecavalier PhD (Committee Member); Marc Tasse PhD (Committee Member); Jen D. Wong PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Developmental Psychology; Organizational Behavior; Psychology; Special Education