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IDD Leader
For IDD Providers: Tired of the revolving door of staff? Join host Nate Beers as he and other industry leaders share loads of actionable advice on how you can retain and grow your DSP workforce. Just because there's a nationwide DSP workforce crisis doesn't mean that your organization has to churn through staff. Listen to innovative solutions to increase your staff retention and give your organization a competitive advantage so that at the end of the day you provide the best quality care for those you serve.
More effective supervisors. Stronger workforce. Lower turnover.
Episodes
61 episodes
Ep. 63 - The Long Game Behind Sustainable Services w/ RCPA
What does it really take to build services that last—not just through the next budget cycle, but for the next decade?In this conversation, host Nate Beers sits down with Tim Sohosky from RCPA to talk about the long game in disability se...
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39:46
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Ep. 62 - The Connection Every IDD Leader Needs w/ RCPA
In today’s episode, podcast host, Nate Beers, sits down with Tim Sohosky, IDD Director at RCPA (Rehabilitation and Community Providers Association), to uncover one of the most overlooked advantages available to leaders in the IDD ...
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37:39
Ep. 61 - The 7 quiet danger signs your supervisors are burning out their teams
Supervisors rarely intend to burn out their teams—but the early warning signs are easy to miss until turnover, drama, and exhaustion take over. In today’s episode, Nate breaks down The 7 Quiet Danger Signs Your Supervisors Are Burning Ou...
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29:25
Ep. 60 - Why DSP Turnover Isn’t “The Cost of Doing Business” w/ NADSP
If you’ve ever felt trapped in the cycle of high vacancy and high turnover, this episode will feel like oxygen.In Part 2 of my interview with Joe Macbeth and Dan Hermreck of NADSP, we dig into the data, the myths, and the practical step...
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33:41
Ep. 59 - From the Oval Office to the Pope: How NADSP Is Transforming DSP Work
“Born” in the Oval Office? Yes—NADSP’s origin story is wilder than you think.In this episode, Joe Macbeth and Dan Hermrick from the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals join Nate to unpack the surprising beginnings of NADSP, t...
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33:43
Ep. 58 - The New Rules Shaping DSP Pay and Policy w/ NASDDDS and HSRI
Wages up. Turnover down. Still not enough.In Part 1, we looked at the progress: DSP wages are rising, and turnover is finally trending down. But in this episode, we explore what’s driving the next wave of change—and the new rules that c...
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36:31
Ep. 57 - The State of the DSP Workforce (And Why It Matters) w/ NASDDDS and HSRI
Are DSP wages finally improving—or are we still far from solving the workforce crisis? In this episode, Laura Vegas (NASDDDS) and Dorothy Hiersteiner (HSRI) unpack what the National Core Indicators State ...
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36:53
Ep. 56 - What Really Keeps Staff in Disability Services w/ CHI Friendship
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 genu...
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31:28
Ep. 55 - One Simple Question Doubled Staff Retention w/ CHI Friendship
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 que...
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39:08
Ep. 54 - How “Professional Neighbors” Are Transforming IDD Care w/ Dr. Mike Strouse
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<...
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23:12
Ep. 53 - The Retention Strategy No One Talks About w/ Dr. Michael Strouse
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 Good...
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49:55
Ep. 52 - Your Turnover Isn't "That Bad"? Think Again. w/ UMN Direct Support Workforce Solutions
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 t...
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34:15
Ep. 51 - From High Turnover to Thriving Workforce w/ UMN’s Direct Support Workforce Solutions
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...
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46:35
Ep. 50 - From Family Startup to IDD Industry Standout - w/ CARES of Western PA
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 ...
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26:34
Ep. 49 - From 4 Employees to 100: How This IDD Agency Scaled Without Losing Their Heart
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:...
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47:34
Ep. 48 - Fixing Leadership Blind Spots that Hurt IDD Teams w/ NLC
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 exp...
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41:55
Ep. 47 - The Leadership Aha Moments That Change Everything - w/ Nat'l Leadership Consortium
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 lead...
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41:10
Ep. 46 - Better Client Outcomes: Autism and IDD Leadership Fixes w/ Dr. Peter Gerhardt
What does it take to lead in Autism and IDD services without burning out—or burning bridges? Dr. Peter Gerhardt shares surprising lessons on adapting your leadership style, keeping your team motivated, and making the work deeply meaningful for ...
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38:25
Ep. 45 - "Don't believe your own press" & more leadership lessons w/ Dr. Peter Gerhardt
In the field of human services, the needs are vast and the mission is clear. But when leaders are pulled in a thousand different directions, it's easy to feel stressed by the competing demands on every side.In this episode, Dr. Peter Ge...
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34:07
Ep. 44 - Turning Organizational Values Into Daily Actions w/ Dr. Syard Evans
It’s one thing to have values on the wall—it’s another to see them come to life in day-to-day decisions, especially on the frontlines. In this episode, Dr. Syard Evans returns to share how her team at Arkansas Support Network builds real values...
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38:50
Ep. 43 - Leveraging AI in human services w/ Dr. Syard Evans of Arkansas Support Network
How can AI help your organization provide values-based, person-centered care? And what are the risks and benefits?In this episode, Dr. Syard Evans shares what is already happening at her organization—how they have develop...
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57:36
Ep. 42 - Tackling staff turnover w/ Dr. Dennis Reid
Is this a "good idea" or something that will actually move the needle when it comes to reducing staff turnover?This is Part 2 of my conversation with Dr. Dennis Reid, and in it he unpacks practical steps to take at your organization to m...
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22:03
Ep. 41 - Supervisor training that actually works w/ Dr. Dennis Reid
In Part 1 of this powerful interview, Dr. Dennis Reid—renowned author of The Supervisor’s Guidebook—shares how to train supervisors effectively, what to do if a supervisor is struggling, and how to start developing future leaders from your DSP ...
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37:37
Ep. 40 - From "too many vacancies" to "fully staffed" - How to recruit more DSPs
The problem isn't the people. It's the process. Fix your recruiting process and your vacancies will drop.This episode offers 12 simple changes that make a huge difference in improving your hiring funnel. And if you want a bla...
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18:20
Ep. 39 - How to recruit more DSPs and reduce your job vacancies
If you're at all involved in the hiring process of Direct Support Professionals (or you oversee the people who do), then this episode is for you! Drop your agency's job vacancy rate and stop burning through overtime costs. Leverage ...
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15:07