Direct Support Professional Workforce Innovation Grants

2021

Direct support professionals provide vital services to individuals with disabilities that allow them to live healthy and happy lives in the communities of their choosing. Disability service providers across the state are plagued by staff shortages and difficulty recruiting and retaining qualified individuals to fill open positions. Additionally, this workforce issue makes it difficult for providers to provide adequate supports to help transition individuals out of congregate settings and into the community. To address this need, the Iowa Developmental Disabilities Council (DD Council) and Center for Disabilities and Development, Iowas nationally designated University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, are soliciting applications from HCBS waiver providers proposing innovative strategies to recruit and/or retain direct support professionals. Four $25,000 grants will be awarded. We encourage applicants to think outside the box and develop truly innovative strategies to address this area of need. The application deadline is February 28, 2021 at 11:59pm. Awardees will be notified mid-March with projects expected to begin by early April.

Health-Related Activities, Employment-Related Activities, Housing-Related Activities

Professionals and Para-Professionals

None

State

N/A