Initiative to Address Workforce Crisis in Maryland
Frontline workers in the disability service field now have a new opportunity to improve their professional skills at Jubilee’s new training academy located in Kensington. The Academy at Jubilee opens its doors November 1 and welcomes all direct support professionals to take classes. The Academy aims to improve the quality of direct support for people with disabilities and combat an industry-wide workforce crisis.
In Maryland, the annual turnover rate for staff who work directly with adults with disabilities is 33 percent. High staff turnover harms the vulnerable people who rely on direct support professionals (DSP). It is also cost prohibitive for service agencies that must prioritize constant recruitment and basic staff training. Jubilee’s DSP staff turnover rate of 14 percent is well below the state average, and partly attributable to an ongoing commitment to robust staff education.
“Through The Academy we can reach more direct support professionals with education that we know makes a positive impact on their work,” said Melanie Moore, the first program director of The Academy at Jubilee. “We consistently hear from support staff that advanced training deepens their commitment to supporting people with disabilities. The trainings give them additional knowledge to handle complex situations like healthy relationships and navigating cultural differences.”
James Kivembele is a Service Team Leader at Jubilee, providing direct support services and supervision to other staff. He was promoted to this position after completing advanced training at Jubilee, which is now being offered through The Academy. “Enrolling in Jubilee’s classes greatly enhanced my professional development,” said James. “The trainers are exceptional, and the student-centered approach has refined my skills and increased my confidence in my work helping people with disabilities.”
Investing in staff training fosters a career-path mentality for direct support professionals who are then more competent and committed to their work, regardless of which agency they work for. Representatives from Jubilee’s partner agencies Ardmore Enterprises, Compass, and SEEC help guide The Academy by serving on an advisory committee so that the trainings best serve the entire industry. Collaboration on The Academy is a natural progression of joint work on the Maryland DSP Training Consortium with SEEC and others, in partnership with Maryland’s Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA).
The Academy opens with seven trainings that teach both technical skills like CPR and medication administration, and higher-level trainings that focus on interpersonal skills such as communication and coaching. The Academy is located at Jubilee’s headquarters in Kensington, MD. The Academy is made possible thanks to the generosity of the Patricia Abell Fund, Maryland General Assembly funding (sponsored by District 18), and other donors.
“Ensuring that direct support professional staff throughout our region are well trained benefits the entire disability community,” said Steve Keener, Executive Director of the Jubilee Association of Maryland. “We’re grateful to our partner agencies for their ongoing collaboration as we work toward shared goals. Thank you to our elected officials, donors, and staff who helped make The Academy a reality as we work to combat the workforce crisis and improve care for Marylanders with intellectual and developmental disabilities.”
- You can learn more about The Academy at Jubilee on the Jubilee website.
- External learners register online and see all upcoming classes on The Academy calendar.
- Jubilee staff register for courses through iCare. Check with your Program Manager before registering for longer classes like Coach Approach.