A Solution Is Needed to Address the Nation’s 

Direct Support Professional Workforce Crisis

VOR supports national efforts by the Administration, Congress, advocacy organizations, providers and individuals to address the recruitment and retention crisis facing direct support professionals working in long term care settings.

Low wages, inadequate benefits, and lack of training have led to low morale, high turnover and a shortage of qualified direct support professionals. This situation has directly impacted the quality of care received by individuals with mental retardation and developmental disabilities in all long term care settings. The shortage of workers requires that the existing laborers work very long hours. Low wages mean that most front line workers work two jobs just to make ends meet. In many settings, these workers are placed in very challenging situations without the support of training or supervision necessary to do a safe, quality job. All these scenarios lead to unnecessary stress, fatigue, and low morale for direct support professionals. The situation is unhappy and unsafe for them. For those who are being served, the quality of care can be seriously compromised and their lives endangered.

Consistent with its work on outcomes[1], VOR applauds the level of attention that this critical issue is receiving.

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VOR is a national nonprofit advocacy organization with thousands of members .

Our members are primarily the families of

people with severe and profound mental retardation.  

 VOR is dedicated to supporting a full range of quality residential options to meet the full spectrum of needs, desires, choices and abilities of all people with mental retardation.

VOR * 836 S. Arlington Heights Rd., #351 * Elk Grove Village, Illinois * 60007

877-399-4VOR ph. * 847-253-0675 fax * tamie327@hotmail.com