2018 Regional Profiles
The 2018 Direct Support Workforce State Overview for East, Middle, and West Tennessee covers data for the organizations that responded to the survey by region. Knowing there may be regional differences across the state, the regional profiles characterize data to identify such trends. All regional breakdowns in this report categorize organizational data by the region where the organization provides the highest percentage of services. Of the 47 organizations, 32% of the organizations provided their highest service percentage in the East counties, 45% in the Middle counties, and 23% in the West counties. One organization provided 50% of their services in the Middle region and 50% in the West region. All but two organizations that completed the survey had their highest percentage of services in the region where their administrative office was located. For this reason, the organization with 50% in each of 2 regions was assigned to the Middle region where the administrative office was located.
The profiles displayed here are available at the end of the survey report for 2018 (PDF). 
Table of Contents
East Tennessee Profile
The 2018 Direct Support Workforce Regional Overview for East Tennessee covers data for the 15 organizations with the majority of their services in the East region of Tennessee. These 15 organizations are 32% of the 47 organizations that responded to the survey.
Organization Characteristics in East
The 13 reporting organizations provide 14% of services in the West region, 9% in the Middle region, and 78% in the East region. These proportions of service regions are an average of the proportion of services organizations reported they provide in each region weighted by the number of DSPs. Thirteen organizations reported 1,785 service sites with 40% family or individual homes, 17% agency or facility sites, 16% job sites, and 27% other sites not already indicated. Of the 15 participating organizations, 14 had been in business ten years or more, and one had been in business only 1-5 years. Of the 15 participating organizations, 14 had been in delivering services ten years or more, and one had been in business only 1-5 years.
Direct Support Professionals in East
There were 4,045 direct support professionals (DSPs) in the 15 organizations who responded to the 2018 survey. Of those DSPs, 5% were on call or temporary employees, 21% were part-time, and 74% were full-time. Thirty-one percent of DSPs worked across more than one service type. Service types included ECF Choices, DIDD Waiver, Vocational Rehabilitation, and CHOICES (Non-ECF Choices).
Staffing ratios
Among 12 organizations serving 3,017 people, there were an average of 1.1 DSPs employed for every person served. For every one frontline supervisor, there was an average of 8 DSPs in 15 reporting organizations. For every one manager, there was an average of 19 DSPs in 14 reporting organizations. For every one administrator, there was an average of 11 DSPs in 15 reporting organizations. Lastly, for every other type of employee (not a frontline supervisor, manager or administrator), there was an average of 5 DSPs in 11 reporting organizations.
Vacancy in East
The overall vacancy rate for DSPs was 17% in 15 organizations employing 4,045 DSPs. On average, 18% of part-time positions were vacant and 16% of full-time positions were vacant.
Turnover in East
Overall, there was 51% turnover for DSPs in the 15 organizations reporting. The part-time turnover was 51% and full-time turnover was 52%. The most common reasons for departure of DSPs given by organizations who track the reasons for DSPs departures were: found another job at another company; was terminated or fired; and other (such as low pay, work in another field, no show, personal reasons, etc.).
Wages in East
The starting wage for a DSP was $9.30, the average wage was $10.09, and the highest wage was $11.87 when averaged across the organizations reporting. Twenty-seven percent of organizations pay DSPs who work across different service types a different wage for services. Wage increases for full-time DSPs were 92 cents once training is complete, 56 cents for longevity increases, and 66 cents for reasons other than longevity on average across reporting organizations.
Benefits in East
Organizations who took the survey were asked about the benefits they provide DSPs. Paid time off was offered to full-time DSPs by 60% of organizations and to part-time DSPs by none (0%) of organizations. Sick leave was offered to full-time DSPs by 33% of organizations and to part-time DSPs by 7% of organizations. Paid vacation was offered to full-time DSPs by 33% of organizations and to part-time DSPs by 7% of organizations. Health insurance was offered to full-time DSPs by 93% of organizations and to part-time DSPs by 7% of organizations. Organization reported that 33% of DSPs were enrolled their employer health care plans.
Overtime in East
The average monthly overtime per DSP was 18 hours. The highest average overtime for DSPs was 46 hours for ECF Choices Personal Assistance/Supportive Home Care among reporting organizations.
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Middle Tennessee Profile
The 2018 Direct Support Workforce Regional Overview for Middle Tennessee covers data for the 21 organizations with the majority of their services in the Middle region of Tennessee. These 21 organizations are 45% of the 47 organizations that responded to the survey.
Organization Characteristics in Middle
The 21 reporting organizations provide 8% of services in the West region, 86% in the Middle region, and 6% in the East region. These proportions of service regions are an average of the proportion of services organizations reported they provide in each region weighted by the number of DSPs. Seventeen organizations reported 647 service sites with 66% family or individual homes, 10% agency or facility sites, 18% job sites, and 5% other sites not already indicated. Of the 21 participating organizations, 15 had been in business ten years or more, one for 6-10 years, and 5 had been in business only 1-5 years. Of the 21 participating organizations, 15 had been in delivering services ten years or more, one for 6-10 years, and 4 for 1-5 years and one had been in business for less than one year.
Direct Support Professionals in Middle
There were 2,672 direct support professionals (DSPs) in the 21 organizations who responded to the 2018 survey. Of those DSPs, 3% were on call or temporary employees, 29% were part-time, and 69% were full-time. Forty-four percent of DSPs worked across more than one service type. Service types included ECF Choices, DIDD Waiver, Vocational Rehabilitation, and CHOICES (Non-ECF Choices).
Staffing ratios
Among 17 organizations serving 1,578 people, there were an average of 1.2 DSPs employed for every person served. For every one frontline supervisor, there was an average of 18 DSPs in 16 reporting organizations. For every one manager, there was an average of 15 DSPs in 18 reporting organizations. For every one administrator, there was an average of 13 DSPs in 20 reporting organizations. Lastly, for every other type of employee (not a frontline supervisor, manager or administrator), there was an average of 9 DSPs in 14 reporting organizations.
Vacancy in Middle
The overall vacancy rate for DSPs was 15% in 19 organizations employing 2,662 DSPs. On average, 20% of part-time positions were vacant and 18% of full-time positions were vacant.
Turnover in Middle
Overall, there was 45% turnover for DSPs in the 20 organizations reporting. The part-time turnover was 42% and full-time turnover was 50%. The most common reasons for departure of DSPs given by organizations who track the reasons for DSPs departures were: found another job at another company; other (such as low pay, work in another field, no show, personal reasons, etc.); and was terminated or fired.
Wages in Middle
The starting wage for a DSP was $9.67, the average wage was $10.40, and the highest wage was $12.14 when averaged across the organizations reporting. Thirty-three percent of organizations pay DSPs who work across different service types a different wage for services. Wage increases for full-time DSPs were 73 cents once training is complete, 53 cents for longevity increases, and 70 cents for reasons other than longevity on average across reporting organizations.
Benefits in Middle
Organizations who took the survey were asked about the benefits they provide DSPs. Paid time off was offered to full-time DSPs by 57% of organizations and to part-time DSPs by 14% of organizations. Sick leave was offered to full-time DSPs by 33% of organizations and to part-time DSPs by 5% of organizations. Paid vacation was offered to full-time DSPs by 33% of organizations and to part-time DSPs by 5% of organizations. Health insurance was offered to full-time DSPs by 76% of organizations and to part-time DSPs by 24% of organizations. Organization reported that 26% of DSPs were enrolled their employer health care plans.
Overtime in Middle
The average monthly overtime per DSP was 16 hours. The highest average overtime for DSPs was 50 hours for CHOICES (Non-ECF Choices) Community Living among reporting organizations.
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West Tennessee Profile
The 2018 Direct Support Workforce Regional Overview for West Tennessee covers data for the 11 organizations with the majority of their services in the West region of Tennessee. These 11 organizations are 23% of the 47 organizations that responded to the survey.
Organization Characteristics in West
The 10 reporting organizations provide 80% of services in the West region, 5% in the Middle region, and 15% in the East region. These proportions of service regions are an average of the proportion of services organizations reported they provide in each region weighted by the number of DSPs. Nine organizations reported 520 service sites with 88% family or individual homes, 3% agency or facility sites, and 9% job sites. Of the 9 participating organi-zations, 6 had been in business ten years or more, 2 for 6-10 years, and 3 had been in business only 1-5 years. Of the 9 participating organizations, 6 had been in delivering services ten years or more, one for 6-10 years, and 4 for 1-5 years.
Direct Support Professionals in West
There were 1,986 direct support professionals (DSPs) in the 11 organizations who responded to the 2018 survey. Of those DSPs, 2% were on call or temporary employees, 39% were part-time, and 59% were full-time. Seventy-seven percent of DSPs worked across more than one service type. Service types included ECF Choices, DIDD Waiver, Vocation-al Rehabilitation, and CHOICES (Non-ECF Choices).
Staffing ratios
Among 9 organizations serving 1,111 people, there were an average of 0.9 DSPs employed for every person served. For every one frontline supervisor, there was an average of 9 DSPs in 8 reporting organizations. For every one manager, there was an average of 21 DSPs in 7 reporting organizations. For every one administrator, there was an aver-age of 11 DSPs in 9 reporting organizations. Lastly, for every other type of employee (not a frontline supervisor, manager or administrator), there was an average of 10 DSPs in 8 reporting organizations.
Vacancy in West
The overall vacancy rate for DSPs was 10% in 9 organizations employing 1,986 DSPs. On average, 13% of part-time positions were vacant and 8% of full-time positions were vacant.
Turnover in West
Overall, there was 42% turnover for DSPs in the 9 organizations reporting. The part-time turnover was 65% and full-time turnover was 31%. The most common reasons for departure of DSPs given by organizations who track the reasons for DSPs departures were: found another job at another company; was terminated or fired; and other (such as low pay, work in another field, no show, personal reasons, etc.).
Wages in West
The starting wage for a DSP was $8.92, the average wage was $9.72, and the highest wage was $12.81 when averaged across the organizations reporting. Eighteen percent of organizations pay DSPs who work across different service types a different wage for services. Wage increases for full-time DSPs were $1.12 once training is complete, 62 cents for longevity increases, and 78 cents for reasons other than longevity on average across reporting organizations.
Benefits in West
Organizations who took the survey were asked about the benefits they provide DSPs. Paid time off was offered to full-time DSPs by 55% of organizations and to part-time DSPs by 9% of organizations. Sick leave was offered to full-time DSPs by 27% of organizations and to part-time DSPs by none (0%) of organizations. Paid vacation was offered to full-time DSPs by 36% of organizations and to part-time DSPs by 9% of organizations. Health insurance was offered to full-time DSPs by 91% of organizations and to part-time DSPs by 18% of organizations. Organization reported that 28% of DSPs were enrolled their employer health care plans.
Overtime in West
The average monthly overtime per DSP was 3 hours. The highest average overtime for DSPs was 6 hours for DIDD Waiver Facility-Based Services among reporting organizations.
