Recruiting and retaining a qualified workforce is important in every industry, but it is critical to the independence and well-being of individuals receiving Home and Community Based Services (HCBS).
KDADS launched a Workforce Recruitment and Retention Bonus Initiative on March 28, 2022. The Initiative aimed to provide bonus pay to direct service workers and their immediate supervisors who deliver critical HCBS services to self-directed and agency-directed participants. Direct service workers and their immediate supervisors received around $2,000 for retention bonuses and $1,500 for recruitment bonuses depending on their hours worked and place of employment.
The application period has ended. Providers and fiscal agents had through April 29, 2022, to submit an application packet. KDADS received 212 applications for the program, benefitting 28,574 Direct Service Workers and their Immediate Supervisors. As of October 12, 2022, $50,944,068.00 has been transferred to the Managed Care Organizations that have distributed funds to providers and fiscal agents who have granted their applicable employee retention and recruitment bonuses. Completed closeout surveys and any remaining funds were due to KDADS by July 31, 2023.
Direct Service Workforce Training Project
The University of Kansas (KU) and Wichita State University (WSU) are working with the KDADS to develop online training courses for Direct Support Workers (DSW) in the Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) program. Enhanced training of DSWs will improve staff confidence in providing essential services that improve the quality of life by ensuring DSWs have the knowledge, skills, and abilities to provide support to each individual they serve in a strengths-based person-centered manner that produce the outcomes outlined in the Person-Centered Support Plan.
Research indicates that there is a link between thorough DSW training and an increase in retention rates. Enhanced training also provides DSWs the skill set necessary to be more marketable, allowing the DSW the opportunity to grow personally and professionally, earn higher wages and increase the quality of care provided.
Would you like to help with this important project? We are looking for individuals who receive HCBS, Direct Support Workers, and family caregivers to advise on this training.
Opportunities to help include the following. Please see the recruitment flyer link below for more information:
- Joining the Training Advisory Council (TAC) with other stakeholders to advise on training topics, content, procedures, and other needs.
- The TAC meets by Zoom on the 4th Tuesday of the month from 10 a.m. to noon.
- Reviewing training materials and providing feedback.
- The time commitment varies, and payment is available.
- Testing online training modules and providing feedback. The time commitment varies, and payment is available.
DSW Training Recruitment Flyer
If interested, scan the QR code below or click this link to sign up:
If you have any questions, contact Carrie with KU at 785-864-3797 or [email protected].