About The Maryland Direct Services Collaborative
Mission
To improve job quality and facilitate and advance the recruitment, retention, and career path development of the direct care and services workforce.
Vision
The direct care and services workforce will be an elevated profession that is well-trained and able to meet the needs of continuing and changing needs of individuals across the Maryland region.
Direct care and services workforce issues have long been a concern for long-term services and supports providers in the Maryland region. Prior to the pandemic, the shortfall of the direct care and services workforce was at a crisis level. A 2018 study conducted by PHI found that in Maryland there was a workforce gap of 40 percent, and in the District of Columbia, 35 percent more workers were needed.
The Maryland Regional Direct Services Collaborative (Collaborative) continues its work today as a network of organizations and individuals dedicated to solving these issues by improving job quality through education, advocacy, and leadership in the formation and design of new program initiatives.
We seek to do this by elevating attention to these critical issues by convening experts, thought leaders, and practitioners to examine, analyze, and offer recommendations on leading edge solutions, research, and data.
