News & Perspectives

HSRI’s latest news and perspectives from team members and people with lived experience.

April 2025

NCI State of the Workforce for AD 2023 report released

We are excited to share the release of the NCI State of the Workforce for Aging and Disabilities 2023 report.

The NCI State of the Workforce for AD is the most comprehensive data on provider agencies and the Direct Service Worker (DSW) workforce providing direct support to the AD population.

A few report highlights: 

In 2023, we collected data from 1,232 provider agencies representing 88,855 DSWs in 6 states (Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Oregon, and Wisconsin). The data for 2023 suggest some positive trends for the state of the AD DSW workforce.  For example:

Across the nation, the average hourly wage for DSWs is $16.27, with 97% of providers reporting wages above the state minimum wage. The average hourly wage for the workforce supporting adults with IDD (Direct Support Professionals, or DSPs) was $17.20 in 2023.
The weighted average turnover ratio was 47.8%. Of the 2 states that also conducted the NCI-AD State of the Workforce in 2022 survey last year, both states demonstrated a large decrease in turnover ratio.
Across all 6 participating states, the percentage of providers who reported turning away or stopping accepting new service referrals in 2023 due to staffing issues was 28.8%. This is lower than the NCI-IDD average of 38.1%.
When compared with the providers supporting the IDD population, the providers supporting the AD population are more likely to be private, for-profit agencies, while the IDD providers are more likely to be private non-profit agencies.
- Private for-profit:
- Providers supporting IDD population: 59.0%
- Providers supporting AD population 83.8%
- Private non-profit:
- Providers supporting IDD population 36.1%
- Providers supporting AD population: 11.8%
The report reveals rates at which AD providers in participating states offer benefits such as paid time off, health insurance, and retirement. In five out of six participating states, AD providers are less likely than IDD providers to offer paid time off to some or all DSWs. Across all participating states, 55.1% of AD providers offer paid time off to some or all DSWs, while 75.9% of IDD providers offer this benefit to some or all DSPs.
The report also details recruitment and retention strategies in which provider agencies in participating states are engaged, such as realistic job previews, apprenticeship programs, training and credentials, bonuses, and more.

State AD agencies have worked tirelessly to address the ongoing workforce shortages for DSWs, and these data suggest slight but hopeful trends in key indicators. Participating provider agencies responded in large numbers to provide current, timely, and critical data on their workforce. HSRI and ADvancing States will continue working closely with state partners to identify opportunities to use these data to further strengthen service delivery systems and ensure DSWs are valued for their essential role supporting the AD population.

You can access the report at the link above, or click on the link below for the Data-At-A-Glance:

At a Glance: NCI-AD State of the Workforce in 2023

Coming Summer 2025: New, Improved Data Platform for NCI

The National Core Indicators team at HSRI, National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services (NASDDDS), and ADvancing States is pleased to announce the rollout of a new, improved data platform—ODESA 2.0. This platform is used to enter data for the following surveys:

NCI-IDD In Person Survey (IPS) and

NCI-IDD family surveys (AFS, FGS, CFS)

NCI-AD Adult Consumer Survey

 The new platform will have: 

A new look

New features

Enhanced security

For more information, check out National Core Indicators.

March 2025

HSRI Welcomes Josephine (Jo) Porter to Board of Directors

Human Services Research Institute is pleased to announce the appointment of Josephine (Jo) Porter, MPH, to its Board of Directors. Porter brings over two decades of experience in public health, program development, and leadership to HSRI’s governing body.

Currently serving as the Chief Strategy Officer for the New Hampshire Center for Justice and Equity (NHCJE), Porter has dedicated her career to enhancing health systems. Prior to her role at NHCJE, she spent 15 years at the University of New Hampshire’s Institute for Health Policy and Practice (IHPP), including seven years as Director.

Porter’s national contributions include co-chairing the All-Payer Claims Database Council and participating in Academy Health’s State-University Partnership Learning Network (SUPLN), where she served a term as Chair of the steering committee. Her expertise has been recognized through appointments to various state and federal committees.

“Jo’s extensive experience in data-driven health policy make her an invaluable addition to our board,” said Leanne Candura, HSRI’s Vice President – Population Health. “Her insights will be crucial as we continue to advance our mission of improving health and human service systems.”

Porter holds a Master of Public Health degree with dual concentrations in Epidemiology/Biostatistics and Social/Behavioral Health from Boston University, graduating with honors. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Microbiology, summa cum laude, from the University of New Hampshire, with a minor in Health Management and Policy.

Article Wins “Top Cited” Certificate from Wiley

An article featured in the Journal of Intellectual Disability Research (JIDR) written by HSRI’s Nilufer Isvan, Alixe Bonardi, and Dorothy Hiersteiner won a “top cited article” certificate from Wiley publishers. The article, titled “Effects of person-centred planning and practices on the health and well-being of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities: a multilevel analysis of linked administrative and survey data,” examines data from the National Core Indicators. A copy of the article is available by writing to communications@hsri.org.

Email us for a copy of the article >

February 2025

New Self-Direction Article by Val Bradley Published by UMN

A new article on self-direction and IDD, penned by President Emerita Val Bradley, has been published in Impact, the newsletter for the University of Minnesota.

Read the article >

January 2025

New Publication: National Core Indicators® State of the Workforce 2023

HSRI and The National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services (NASDDDS) announce the release of the final NCI State of the Workforce for IDD (NCI-IDD SoTW)® 2023 report. The NCI-IDD SoTW is the most comprehensive data on provider agencies and the Direct Support Professional (DSP) workforce across the nation.

Read the publication >

See the “At-a-Glance” infographic >

New Publication: Framework for an Ideal Behavioral Health System

Our Behavioral Health team recently published a new “Framework for an Ideal Behavioral Health System” paper.

Read the publication >

HSRI IDD Expert Wins Award

Congratulations to Alixe Bonardi, Vice President of IDD, Aging & Disability—the 2025 AAIDD Awards recipient for Leadership!

HSRI Affirms Mission and Values

At Human Services Research Institute, we affirm our mission of building equitable, inclusive, and compassionate systems that meet the needs of all. Our work with local, state, and federal partners is essential. With clarity and conviction, we commit to our values of advancing equity, communicating inclusively, and empowering those we serve.

As we move forward, we continue to be inspired by the resilience and strength of the communities we serve. Every day, we are reminded of the profound impact of inclusive and supportive services that uphold people’s lived experiences. We look forward to continuing our work, prioritizing compassion, accountability, and integrity, just as we always have.

July 2024

HSRI’s Celebration on the 60th Anniversary of the Developmental Disabilities Act

HSRI Founder and President Emerita, Valerie Bradley, penned this article on the 60th anniversary of the groundbreaking Developmental Disabilities Act (DD Act) of 1963—an indisputable reason why the lives of people and their families nationwide have greatly improved over the decades. Using data from the National Core Indicators-IDD® 2021-2022 In-Person Survey, Bradley assesses the extent to which we have lived up to the expectations presented in the DD Act.

December 2023

HSRI’s Alixe Bonardi and Kate Brady Featured on “BoggsCast”

Alixe Bonardi, OTR, MHA, FAAIDD, Vice President – Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, and Kate Brady, PhD, ABD, Project Manager for the National Center on Advancing Person-Centered Practices and Systems (NCAPPS) and HCBS Setting Rule Engagement, discuss moving toward an authentically person-centered system of supports and services for people with disabilities on Episode 22 of “BoggsCast,” the podcast of The Boggs Center on Developmental Disabilities.

The New York State Office of Mental Health Has Awarded $1 Million to HSRI

The New York State Office of Mental Health has awarded $1 million to Human Services Research Institute (HSRI) to lead a 2-year evaluation of court-ordered mental health outpatient treatment, or Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT), established in New York under Kendra’s Law (1999).

Behavioral Health Team Describes Its Approach to Systems Change

In this one-pager, the Behavioral Health team describes their unique approach to systems change and their aims in behavioral health needs assessment.

September 2023

Revealing Insights on Quality of Supports and Self-Reported Outcomes Among People with Disabilities

The National Core Indicators (NCI) program announces the release of the National Core Indicators Intellectual and Developmental Disability (NCI-IDD) – In-Person Survey (IPS) National Report for the year 2021-2022. This comprehensive report is based on data collected by 27 states from 13,559 adults receiving long-term services and supports (LTSS) from their state Developmental Disabilities (DD) service systems.

Celebrating Women’s History: An Interview with HSRI Founder and President Emerita Val Bradley

HSRI founder and President Emerita Val Bradley talks about leadership, life lessons, and lasting change in the field of IDD.

Journal Spotlights Research on Self-Directed Care

Featured in the Editor’s Choice collection in Psychiatric Services: Research from Bevin Croft, Nilufer Isvan, and colleagues found that individuals who self-direct while working toward recovery goals have better employment and housing outcomes than people who do not.

HSRI Helps the Maine Cancer Foundation to Create Maine’s First Comprehensive Cancer Blueprint

The Maine Cancer Foundation (MCF) has announced the creation of the first Maine Cancer Blueprint, a comprehensive, interactive, data-driven tool designed to increase knowledge and awareness of issues related to cancer, expand access to care, and support lifestyle changes to reduce cancer risk.

HSRI Announced Additions to Executive and Senior Leadership Teams

HSRI announced the addition of three vice presidents to its executive team and the expansion of its senior leadership team. Sebrina Johniken has been appointed to the role of vice president, human resources and administration; Alexandra (Alixe) Bonardi to the role of vice president, intellectual and developmental disabilities; and Leanne Candura to the role of vice president, population health.

October 2021

New NCI Co-Directors for HSRI

The National Core Indicators team, which includes National Core Indicators—Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (NCI-IDD) and National Core Indicators—Aging and Disabilities (NCI-AD), is pleased to announce that Stephanie Giordano and Dorothy Hiersteiner will be serving as NCI Co-Directors for HSRI. Alixe Bonardi, the previous NCI Director will continue to serve NCI in an advisory capacity.

HSRI’s Population Health Team Names New Directors

HSRI is excited to announce that three staff members are being promoted to director roles on the organization’s Population Health Team: Kate Mullins as the director of project and product management, Kevin Rogers as the director of technical services, and Ioana Crisan as the director of healthcare reporting. The Population Health Team has grown since its inception in 2013.

HSRI Commemorates the 30th Anniversary of the ADA, Reflects on the Need for Its Expansion

The Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed 30 years ago by President George H.W. Bush on July 26, 1990. It marked a major milestone in the fight for the civil rights of people with disabilities to participate in the mainstream of American life. The law prohibits discrimination in broad areas of community and public life—including employment, education, and transportation.