The following case study is adapted from the report Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Direct Service Workforce Demonstration Promising Practices in Marketing, Recruitment and Selection Interventions. The report was prepared by the University of Minnesota, Research and Training Center on Community Living in partnership with The Lewin Group.

“The Delaware workforce recruitment and retention efforts included the development of an award-winning video/DVD called: Direct Support Professional Job Preview Video (RJP). This video/DVD has been used in conjunction with the statewide marketing campaign to enhance the image of DSWs in Delaware. As with the Direct Support Professional Recruitment video/DVD, a private production company was consulted to produce the video. The RJP captures real stories and information from the lives of DSWs and people with disabilities that receive their support. It’s designed to provide a realistic snapshot into a career of working with people with disabilities. The video/DVD describes the expectations that a DSW should have going into the job, and it shows both the challenges and rewards of direct support work. Throughout the video, an emphasis is placed on the values and attitudes a DSW needs to be successful in this profession.

 

DSWs highlighted in the video/DVD share information about the types of tasks they do in their day-to-day jobs, such as supporting people with grooming, dressing, and bathing; taking people to places in the community where they can participate in the activities they enjoy; and interacting with co-workers, family members; and the community, among many other skills and tasks. DSWs also share in the challenges; such as issues related to stress and burnout, completing paperwork, supporting people with challenging needs, and managing conflicts that arise.

 

The RJP asks the viewer to consider this important question: Do you have what it takes to be a DSW? Again, using the voices of people with disabilities and DSWs, the video/DVD emphasizes the job expectations, dreams, and hopes of the individual who receives support. It shows DSWs how individuals want to be treated and what it means to have a DSW in the individual’s life. The video/DVD is available for purchase. (For more information, call Renee Settles-Bean at the Center for Disabilities Studies at 302 831-3073).

 

Delaware faced challenges related to gaining the cooperation and commitment of their participating providers in implementing the demonstration interventions. For example, one of the four partners chose not to use the RJP because they felt its depiction of individuals with disabilities was demeaning.”

 

The Final Report on the Case Studies [2.2.1.i.4] provides information from the evaluation and follow up completed in 2008.