Researching Provider Solutions in Florida - Final Report

The widespread shortage of direct care service providers adversely affects people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The inability to access direct care supports can compromise the health and well-being of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Mathematica conducted the Researching Provider Solutions project for the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council to identify ideas and strategies for recruiting and retaining paid direct care support. Mathematica used multiple work streams—an environmental scan, a web-based survey, interviews, and a work group—to understand the direct care experiences of Floridians with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families.

This final report describes the methods, findings, and recommendations of the Researching Provider Solutions project, with a focus on the survey, interview, and work group work streams. The findings include several recommendations for the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council, state agencies, policymakers and residents, the intellectual and developmental disabilities community, and other interested groups who might work in tandem to improve access to direct care support.