Teamwork and healthy work relationships are critical in the direct support field. The new issue of Frontline Initiative, published in partnership with the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals, focuses on strategies for team building, mentoring, conflict resolution, and sustaining professional relationships. Co-editors are ICI’s Julie Kramme and Chet Tschetter.
This issue of the online magazine includes a new feature, Direct Support Workforce Update, which focuses on timely issues in the DSP workforce. The current Update addresses a question about what individuals can do about proposed Medicaid cuts that might affect disability services and the jobs of direct support professionals (DSP).
"Over the past couple of years, as Julie and I have talked with people in the disability community, we’ve heard again and again how effective teams make a real difference, not only in the lives of people receiving support, but also in the lives of those providing it, including family members, direct support professionals, and frontline supervisors,” said Tschetter. “When the team is communicating well and working toward the same goal, things go so well, but when communication breaks down or people have different priorities, it can hinder the support someone receives. It also affects how people feel about their job and their connection with their co-workers, which influences staff satisfaction and retention. With this issue, we wanted to share both success stories and strategies for handling challenges; to give readers practical examples they can use in today’s workplace.”
Articles include a thoughtful piece by Elizabeth Rowntree, director of the Northern Region at The Arc Mid-Hudson in Catskill, New York, about working with a group of men to advocate for changes to their shared home.
Also in the issue, disability rights advocates BJ Stasio and Katrina Simons emphasize how important it is for DSPs to focus on teamwork with them. Cheryl Dougan remembers how, years ago, DSPs supported her son, Renzo, in living the life he wanted. Risk-averse policies and practices now limit DSPs, and Renzo is losing the quality of life he once enjoyed. Sarah Sharp describes how her direct support team came together to provide better support. Kelly Burgess and Collen Casey are part of their employer’s Dream Builders team, which administers small grants so DSPs can work with people they support to meet a dream or goal.
Giselle Lemus and Laura Schenk explain how mentorship programs in their organizations support new DSPs to take on new job roles with confidence. DSP Nick Smith and manager Jason Colvin emphasize their values to develop and sustain teamwork. Callie Hall describes how she teams up with people with disabilities and supporters to create meaningful volunteer opportunities that benefit the community. Jacquie Foss describes how her organization’s DSPs collaborate in a stock ownership model, giving DSPs ownership together over the company’s operations.
“Sometimes people think DSPs work really independently and individually,” Kramme said. “It's definitely important that DSPs are competent and can make decisions in tough situations, but they also work collaboratively with people they support, family members, and other professionals. While independence is part of the job, it’s the strength of the team around each DSP that results in consistent, high-quality support.”
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