Join the State of the Workforce – Aging and Disabilities (SoTW-AD) Initiative!

What is State of the Workforce? 

The State of the Workforce – Aging and Disabilities (SoTW-AD) initiative is a partnership between HSRI, ADvancing States, and participating states to gather information about the strengths, weaknesses, and trends of the direct service workforce (DSW).  

This survey is based on the SoTW-IDD tool and 5 states’ experience in piloting the tool. The survey has been adapted for Aging and Disability (AD) populations and updated based on pilot feedback. 

The State of the Workforce Survey for the I/DD population is administered by States, HSRI and NASDDDS. The survey was launched in 2014, and over 30 states currently participate. 

Following implementation of the SoTW-IDD survey, ADvancing States partnered with HSRI to launch the SOTW-AD survey in 2023. Six states currently participate. 

What is the benefit of this survey? 

The SoTW-AD tool will help your state gather critical provider-level data, and develop indicators of quality and stability, to inform policies and decision-making. 

The HCBS Access Rule requires multiple data points about DSW wages, as well as wage pass through. The SoTW-AD can help to meet these requirements and demonstrate compliance. 

Additional benefits of state participation in SoTW-AD include: 

  • Without data it is difficult, if not impossible, to make informed policy recommendations or plan for the future. This tool will provide data that will arm you with information to make recommendations both internally and externally - to your legislature, or other important stakeholder groups (including DSW advocacy groups), about the current state of the workforce for aging and disability populations in your state. 

  • States that do participate in the IDD version of the survey have used the data to support DSW minimum wage initiatives, standardized benefits, and have learned about what efforts have worked for retention (through training, certification, bonuses, supervisor ratio, etc.), and implemented changes based on data. 

  • We’ve learned that as states get started, they may not know who the DSWs are or know how many there are. This provides an opportunity to gather benchmark data that will be crucial in coming years with shifting demographics and growing needs. 

How can I learn more about SoTW? 

More information about the State of the Workforce survey, including the 2022 survey report, can be found here. 

Please reach out to Rosa Plasencia with questions.