A Review of Current Information about the Careers of the Direct Support Professional Workforce in the Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Service Delivery Systems

Using information from published literature, interviews and focus groups, this review covers a wide variety of characteristics of the jobs of direct care workers in the behavioral health field. It also looks at the prospects and requirements for developing more effective career paths that recognize and reward quality workers. It concludes with 12 policy recommendations.