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Avoiding Staff Burnout in Disability Services
 From the July 2001 Disabilities newsletter.Staff burnout and turnover in disability services have long been a serious concern. But difficulties in staff retention, combined with an aging population of people with developmental disabilities, have pushed disability services into a near-crisis situation. For any program supervisor or agency director, the question remains: How can agencies and programs that cater to people with developmental disabilities attract and retain qualified staff? Gail Bernstein, a licensed psychologist with over 30 years of experience in the human services field, agrees that low salaries, lack of management support, and lack of opportunities for career advancement all have contributed to high turnover rates among disability services staff. She believes a positive working environment, where a supervisor is available for support and answering questions and where staff members are allowed to take days off periodically, can help stem the current tide. "Treat the staff well, since financial rewards are minimal," advises Dr. Bernstein. "Make sure the staff can do their job in a way that is positive. Make the experience as fun and educational as possible." Dr. Bernstein recommends that disability service personnel who are feeling burned out first take a day off to give themselves a brief rest. She reminds people of the importance of meeting their own physical and emotional needs. "You need to take care of yourself before you can do a good job for other people." If feelings of burnout persist, Dr. Bernstein notes that employees may need to reevaluate their occupation. "You need to ask yourself if you've been in your agency or your line of work too long." Dr. Bernstein cautions disability services staff to "be clear what they will get out of it. The rewards will not be financial." She also reminds them that they will likely have to switch agencies or sectors to advance professionally. While private agencies have more flexibility and less bureaucracy than state or federal agencies, the latter provide more opportunity to affect policies and the administration of services. While the financial rewards are few, Dr, Bernstein emphasizes the intangible benefits of working in the disability services field. "You feel that you've made a difference in people's lives. Your contribution may not always be recognized, so you need to know when you've done something good."
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