Georgia Options Continues to Make Strides in Care for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities
Georgia Options has grown to serve 76 persons, all of who live in homes of their choice. Focusing on choice and promoting community living for the people they serve is what has helped this little known nonprofit succeed. By providing customized, best practice support services, Georgia Options regularly witnesses candidates contributing to their community while living independent lives.
The provider promotes community living for each person served and their family, which allows them to actively participate in the interview process and hiring of each Direct Support Professional (DSP). In Georgia, the need for DSPs and their services is immense; however, difficult training periods and below average pay provides little incentive for people to enter this field.
Because of the challenges with arduous training and low salary, the turnover rate for DSPs is quite high, about 40%. Currently, Georgia Options has an over 20% vacancy rate for DSPs, much lower than the average. However, many of the DSPs employed by Georgia Options have been working with them for almost 20 years, unheard of in this field. Georgia Options remains dedicated to ensuring the satisfaction of the DSPs in their employ.
“We pride ourselves on being accepting to people with a significant level of need, recognizing that they are just as entitled to quality, person-centered services and level of choice as people with less severe challenges,” said Rena Harris, executive director at Georgia Options.
Georgia Options continues to grow in the northeast region of the State and believes that, by continuing to show success with their best practice models, members of the community at large will recognize that people with disabilities bring genuine value to society.
The original article was posted on WLTZ First News on August 10, 2017.
