IDD Leader

What really keeps people in disability services? 

In this episode, the leadership team from CHI Friendship shares how they’ve reimagined staff retention—not through higher pay or perks, but through purpose, inclusion, and genuine connection. 

They talk about the culture shifts that made the biggest difference: listening to staff, inviting people supported into the process, and leading with consistent positivity. The result? A stronger, more stable workforce—and a culture people actually want to be part of. 

If you’re a leader trying to reduce turnover and reignite purpose on your team, this episode is for you. 

Learn more:
https://chifriendship.com/
https://www.facebook.com/CHIFriendship/

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Do your frontline supervisors sometimes unintentionally contribute to staff turnover? It happens so easily because... Most supervisors were never trained to lead.  Get The 7 Quiet Danger Signs Your Supervisors Are Burning Out Their Teams and learn how high-retention agencies spot — and fix — these issues fast. https://iddleader.com/burnout

What if one simple question could change your entire organization? 

In this episode, leaders from CHI Friendship in North Dakota share how they saw dramatic improvements in staff retention—simply by asking one question over and over again.

Through real stories of appreciation, mentorship, and leadership, you’ll hear how this one shift sparked a ripple effect across every level of the organization. From retirement celebrations that reignited purpose, to 40-year milestones, to empowering DSPs to lead from the front lines—this conversation reveals what happens when recognition becomes a habit, not a program. 

You’ll also hear how CHI Friendship flipped its org chart upside down to put people supported and direct support professionals at the top, and how they used feedback surveys to make meaningful changes to onboarding, scheduling, and staff culture. The result? First-year retention more than doubled. 

If you lead in human services, disability services, or any mission-driven organization, this episode will leave you rethinking what’s possible when leaders listen deeply and act consistently on what they hear. 

Learn more about CHI Friendship at https://chifriendship.com/ 

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Quick Question:

Do your frontline supervisors sometimes unintentionally contribute to staff turnover? It happens so easily because... Most supervisors were never trained to lead.  Get The 7 Quiet Danger Signs Your Supervisors Are Burning Out Their Teams and learn how high-retention agencies spot — and fix — these issues fast. https://iddleader.com/burnout

 What if your agency could deliver care as a neighborhood instead of one home at a time? 

In this episode, Dr. Mike Strouse of GoodLife Innovations shares how “Professional Neighbors” and shared living models are redefining community supports for people with IDD. The result? Lower turnover, stronger relationships, and a future where care is an amenity of the neighborhood itself. 

You’ll hear how GoodLife’s Neighborhood Network and live-by, live-near, live-with strategies are producing outcomes that seemed impossible—like 3% annual turnover—while keeping services inclusive, connected, and scalable. 

🎧 If you missed Part 1, go back to Episode 53: The Retention Strategy No One Talks About.  

Learn More:
Visit https://mygoodlife.org/goodlife-u/
for free resources and consultation opportunities from Dr. Strouse and the GoodLifeU team. 

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Quick Question:

Do your frontline supervisors sometimes unintentionally contribute to staff turnover? It happens so easily because... Most supervisors were never trained to lead.  Get The 7 Quiet Danger Signs Your Supervisors Are Burning Out Their Teams and learn how high-retention agencies spot — and fix — these issues fast. https://iddleader.com/burnout

Most providers think high turnover and staff vacancies are just part of the job. But what if there’s a proven way to predictably build a stable workforce?

In this episode, Dr. Mike Strouse (CEO of GoodLife Innovations and founder of GoodLifeU) reveals the retention strategy no one talks about — one that’s transforming provider agencies across the country. You’ll learn why traditional turnover advice misses the mark, and how one system has helped agencies achieve low turnover, low vacancies, and low overtime costs.

Listen to discover:
--Why “person-centered care” starts with caring for your staff
--The surprising role scheduling plays in staff retention
--How GoodLifeU’s model delivers predictable workforce stability
--Learn more: https://mygoodlife.org/goodlife-u/

Send us Fan Mail

Quick Question:

Do your frontline supervisors sometimes unintentionally contribute to staff turnover? It happens so easily because... Most supervisors were never trained to lead.  Get The 7 Quiet Danger Signs Your Supervisors Are Burning Out Their Teams and learn how high-retention agencies spot — and fix — these issues fast. https://iddleader.com/burnout

Think your turnover isn’t that bad? You might be missing the blind spots that are costing your agency thousands.

In this episode, Kris Foss and Chet Tschetter from UMN’s Direct Support Workforce Solutions share stories of agencies that turned the corner—from defensive to proactive, from crisis to culture change. You’ll hear about common leadership blind spots, the power of digging into workforce data, how to build buy-in across your organization, and why tech and the next generation of leaders will shape the DSP workforce of the future.

Whether you’re an executive director, HR leader, or program manager, this conversation will help you see what’s possible—and where to start.

Learn more:
-- UMN Direct Support Workforce Solutions - https://dsws.umn.edu/

-- Frontline Initiative - a free online magazine Connecting DSPs to the Issues that Matter - https://ici.umn.edu/series/7

-- National Frontline Supervisor Competencies - https://ici.umn.edu/products/553

-- Frontline Supervisor Assessment - https://ici.umn.edu/products/555

--The Institute on Community Integration at the University of Minnesota - https://ici.umn.edu/

 

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Quick Question:

Do your frontline supervisors sometimes unintentionally contribute to staff turnover? It happens so easily because... Most supervisors were never trained to lead.  Get The 7 Quiet Danger Signs Your Supervisors Are Burning Out Their Teams and learn how high-retention agencies spot — and fix — these issues fast. https://iddleader.com/burnout

 Is your agency stuck in the cycle of high turnover, vacancies, and constant shift coverage? In this episode, Kris Foss and Chet Tschetter from UMN’s Direct Support Workforce Solutions share practical steps any human services leader can take to break free. 

From asking and listening, to using data to identify hot spots and bright spots, to building a leadership pipeline, onboarding, mentorship, and realistic job previews—they lay out a clear path from struggling to thriving. 

You’ll also learn the hidden cost of DSP turnover (usually more than $5,000+ per employee) and how to start reducing it today. 

Learn More

Direct Support Workforce Solutions  

Frontline Initiative - a free online magazine Connecting DSPs to the Issues that Matter. 

National Frontline Supervisor Competencies

Frontline Supervisor Assessment

The Institute on Community Integration at the University of Minnesota 

Send us Fan Mail

Quick Question:

Do your frontline supervisors sometimes unintentionally contribute to staff turnover? It happens so easily because... Most supervisors were never trained to lead.  Get The 7 Quiet Danger Signs Your Supervisors Are Burning Out Their Teams and learn how high-retention agencies spot — and fix — these issues fast. https://iddleader.com/burnout

CARES of Western PA has grown from a small family startup into an industry standout. Yet they’ve kept their family feel at every step. 

In this episode, Mindy Bowen and Kate Smith share how they stay lean at the top, respond quickly to staff feedback, and keep quality of care as the non-negotiable center of everything. 

We also dive into how CARES is pushing the boundaries of community participation—getting their VIPs into volunteer roles, meaningful activities, and experiences that truly enrich lives. 

This is a masterclass in scaling culture, not just programs. 

Learn more:
https://cares4u.org/ 

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Quick Question:

Do your frontline supervisors sometimes unintentionally contribute to staff turnover? It happens so easily because... Most supervisors were never trained to lead.  Get The 7 Quiet Danger Signs Your Supervisors Are Burning Out Their Teams and learn how high-retention agencies spot — and fix — these issues fast. https://iddleader.com/burnout

In this episode,  you'll hear from Mindy Bowen, Co-Owner, and Kate Smith, Assistant Director of CARES of Western PA, to unpack their incredible growth journey—going from just 4 employees to nearly 100 in a decade.

We talk about:

-How they built “the CARES way” and a family-friendly culture
-Why investing in staff (and making it fun!) pays off
-How listening to feedback shapes their success
-The leadership pipeline that keeps their team strong

If you’re leading IDD services and wondering how to grow without losing what makes your organization special, this conversation is packed with insights. 

Learn more: 
https://cares4u.org/ 

Send us Fan Mail

Quick Question:

Do your frontline supervisors sometimes unintentionally contribute to staff turnover? It happens so easily because... Most supervisors were never trained to lead.  Get The 7 Quiet Danger Signs Your Supervisors Are Burning Out Their Teams and learn how high-retention agencies spot — and fix — these issues fast. https://iddleader.com/burnout

What blind spots keep leaders from building thriving teams? In this insightful follow-up conversation with Dr. Caitlin Bailey and Kristen Loomis Greenidge, co-directors of the National Leadership Consortium on Developmental Disabilities, we explore the hidden assumptions that quietly undermine leaders.

You’ll hear how blind spots can stall growth, hurt outcomes, and drive turnover—and more importantly, how leaders can build authentic practices that engage staff, strengthen culture, and prepare the next generation of leadership.

More info:
https://natleadership.org

The Leadership Institute: https://natleadership.qualtrics.com/j...

National Leadership Consortium Bulletin: https://natleadership.org/bulletin.html (quarterly publication that brings research to practice for field leaders on a range of topics that are useful to informing and building leaders’ skills)

Organizational Priorities & Practices Inventory: https://natleadership.org/oppi.html

Additional Resources:
Gallup q12- survey and some of the best data across industries on employee engagement: https://www.gallup.com/q12-employee-e...

NCI State of the Workforce Report https://idd.nationalcoreindicators.or...

Expectations Matter: https://expectationsmatter.com


Level up your org's supervision patterns:
https://iddleader/supervisor 

Send us Fan Mail

Quick Question:

Do your frontline supervisors sometimes unintentionally contribute to staff turnover? It happens so easily because... Most supervisors were never trained to lead.  Get The 7 Quiet Danger Signs Your Supervisors Are Burning Out Their Teams and learn how high-retention agencies spot — and fix — these issues fast. https://iddleader.com/burnout

What makes a leader truly grow? In this powerful conversation with Dr. Caitlin Bailey and Kristen Loomis Greenidge, co-directors of the National Leadership Consortium on Developmental Disabilities, we explore the aha moments that transform leaders—sometimes bringing them to tears. 

You’ll hear why DSPs don’t leave because of the people they serve, but often because of their boss or coworkers, and how leadership development can develops trust, engagement, and retention.

More info:
https://natleadership.org

The Leadership Institute: https://natleadership.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9z9rSudkRwklVPg

National Leadership Consortium Bulletin: https://natleadership.org/bulletin.html (quarterly publication that brings research to practice for field leaders on a range of topics that are useful to informing and building leaders’ skills)

Organizational Priorities & Practices Inventory: https://natleadership.org/oppi.html

Additional Resources:
Gallup q12- survey and some of the best data across industries on employee engagement: https://www.gallup.com/q12-employee-engagement-survey/

NCI State of the Workforce Report https://idd.nationalcoreindicators.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/2023-NCI-IDD-SoTW_241126_FINAL.pdf

Expectations Matter: https://expectationsmatter.com


 

Send us Fan Mail

Quick Question:

Do your frontline supervisors sometimes unintentionally contribute to staff turnover? It happens so easily because... Most supervisors were never trained to lead.  Get The 7 Quiet Danger Signs Your Supervisors Are Burning Out Their Teams and learn how high-retention agencies spot — and fix — these issues fast. https://iddleader.com/burnout