Part C Recruitment and Retention Strategies – NECTAC Part C Listserv Postings
Delaware
(2006) Delaware has just established an Executive Order to create a task force to study licensed Speech/Language Pathologists. The Birth to Three Early Intervention System is an official member as the Department of Health and Social Services' ( Part C lead agency) representative. We helped to bring this issue to the fore front. We'll keep NECTAC informed regarding what we are able to accomplish through this Task Force.
Rosanne Griff-Cabelli, Part C Coordinator Birth to Three Early Intervention System, DHSS
(e-mail) (302) 255-9135 (voice) (302) 255-4407 (fax) (List posting 2005)
Hi Kathy, One of Delaware's critical shortages is in the area of speech language pathology. As of June 24, 2004 Birth to Three was included in Delaware's Speech/Language Pathologist Incentive Loan program. The Speech/Language incentive program prior to this only included students who agreed to work in Delaware public schools as licensed speech pathologists. This amendment to the legislation extends the incentive loan program to employees of providers of the Part C, Birth to Three Early Intervention System program.
Through Delaware New Scripts, family members are co-teaching/guest lecturing in graduate and undergraduate level courses, and are participating in practica experiences. We believe that having the opportunity to hear first hand from a family, or to spend time with a child with a disability may influence a student to choose early intervention as a career.
Also, each of our provider agencies have their own recruitment strategies, and we support those efforts as much as possible. Our hope is to be able to build on some of the strategies identified in the newly re-energized CSPD task force, and I would be interested in learning about strategies that other states are finding successful.
Carol Ann Schumann Training Administrator Birth to Three Early Intervention System, DHSS (302) 255-9136 (voice) (302) 255-4407 (fax)
Florida
wrote:
Hi Kathy - I am responding to your request for promising or effective approaches regarding this subject. In order to expand our recruitment of licensed therapy service providers, Early Steps is developing an insert to be included in a packet of materials sent to all newly licensed therapists in the state. We don't have the finished product ready, we are working with graphics now, and obviously we won't know whether it is effective or not until we have been distributing it for some time, but I am attaching the text copy for your reference. This is just a small part of the big problem and will likely work for the "low hanging fruit" - but it is also low cost, low tech, and easy to implement. We look forward to seeing what is going on in other states,please share with us - thanks!
Danielle Jennings, MSW Unit Director, Early Steps Children's Medical Services Network 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin A06 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1707 Phone: (850)245-4200 Ext. 3910 Fax: (850) 921-8138
DRAFT Become an Early Steps Therapy Provider The Early Steps Program invites you to enroll as a therapy provider and make a difference in the lives of Florida’s infants and toddlers with special needs. The first few years of life are extremely important to the growth and development of children, so it is essential to meet their physical and developmental needs as early in life as possible. Florida’s Early Steps system offers early intervention services to infants and toddlers (birth to thirty-six months) with significant developmental delays or a condition that places them at risk of developmental delay. It is a statewide, family-focused, multidisciplinary system of early intervention services for eligible children – funded in part by Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. The process of Early Steps provider enrollment involves three easy steps:
Step One - Complete your electronic application form. Step Two - Submit the required documentation to complete your application. Step Three - Receive approval as a provider in the system.
Requirements to enroll in Early Steps as a Therapy Provider Internet access with an email address for your electronic application; Current Florida license for your therapy practice; Minimum one year of professional experience with children 0-5; Enrolled or enrolling in Medicaid, or Level II FBI background screening; Current professional liability insurance; Signed copy of Early Steps “Terms and Conditions” form; and Complete the Early Steps Orientation Training online modules. For more information and electronic provider application form: http://www.cms-kids.com/ESproviders/providers.htm Or via email,
Texas
Here are some strategies we are trying in Texas to address Recruitment and Retention. If you have any questions about Texas' recruitment strategies, please contact Rachel Moyer-Trimyer at
Recruitment: 1) Subscription to an on-line recruiting service: We subscribe to Absolutely Healthcare/C.J.Ventures. Their website is www.healthjobsusa.com. They are one of the largest health care job sites on the web, and their prices are reasonable. Our subscription allows our 60 contractual programs to post openings for SLPs, SLP-Assistants, Social Workers, RNs, OTs, COTAs, PTs, and PTAs. With the subscription, programs have access to Absolutely Healthcare's resume database and we receive client profiles from different therapists who are seeking employment across Texas.
2) Exhibiting at university career fairs and at the Texas Speech Language Hearing Association annual statewide conference: This is a great way to let SLP students and speech therapists know about the ECI programs and our career opportunities. We also encourage our programs to post their job openings on the university job boards. We have developed a "recruitment brochure" that targets anyone who might be interested in a career in early intervention. http://www.dars.state.tx.us/ecis/publications/index.shtml (scroll to the bottom of the page)
3) Providing placement sites for SLP interns, practicum students and CFYs: This allows students to get a glimpse of the benefits and challenges of providing services in natural environments. It also allows program directors and students to find out if the student is a "good fit" for ECI and/or for the specific program he/she is interning in.
4) Having ECI staff and/or ECI parents speak at university classes: This may be the first opportunity for a student to hear about ECI and about providing services as part of a family's daily routines. A student may be more interested in seeking employment in ECI after they hear a family's story or hear from a "real life" SLP who works in ECI.
5) Supporting staff when they return to school to obtain a master's degree which will lead to a license in Speech and Language Pathology. Some programs are looking into providing tuition reimbursement for staff to obtain their master's degree if they agree to continue working for the program after they graduate.
6) "Marketing" ECI job opportunities to the list of licensed SLPs and SLPS-Assistants in Texas: Programs can chose to send information about ECI and/or job opportunities in their program to the list of licensed SLPs and SLP assistants in their area.
Retention:
1) ECI programs in Texas who provide reflective supervision or similar supervision practices tend to have lower turnover than other Texas ECI programs. Providing support for staff is not only crucial for retention, but also for providing the highest level of services for families. Staff who feel supported by their supervisor are more likely to effectively support their families so that the families can support the development of their children.
2) Having a mentor to show the new speech therapist "the ropes" of working in an ECI program is another very effective form of retention.
3) Clear expectations: Before starting a job in ECI, the SLP needs to understand if she is going to be a service coordinator in addition to an SLP, how the ECI program provides services (direct services vs. consultant or coaching model), where services are typically provided, and the model of interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary teams. If the SLP thinks that she will be providing direct services to infants and toddlers, and a program uses a consultant model for services, the SLP will probably be disappointed and won't stick around for very long.
Posted by: Mary Jo Miller Division for Early Childhood Intervention Services Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services 4900 N. Lamar Blvd. Austin, TX. 78751-2399 512-424-6804 Fax- 512-424-6799
Please send additions to our Region 1 Early Childhood document collection to: Cybele Elaine Werts at
Thank you to NECTAC for providing us with these documents as well as their ongoing support and technical assistance!
