At Venture Together, we are committed to empowering individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities by building a community of dedicated and compassionate team members.
This year, we are proud to announce the success of our Direct Support Professional (DSP) Recruitment and Retention Project. As of December, we have reached our ambitious goal of welcoming 70 new staff to our team! This milestone marks the culmination of months of strategic planning, innovative initiatives, and the unwavering dedication of our Recruitment and Retention Committee.
Why is the DSP Project So Important?
DSPs are the heart of Venture Together, making up more than 68% of our workforce. They provide frontline support, ensuring the individuals we serve live fulfilling and joyful lives. However, the nationwide DSP staffing crisis has presented significant challenges in recruitment and retention, requiring innovative strategies to adapt to this competitive job market. The importance of this project extends beyond the numbers, as shared by our project leader, Lisa Kirrane, CHRO:
“Recruiting and retaining experienced and dedicated DSPs positively contributes to the continuity of care and support provided to our individuals. DSPs who are passionate and committed about their work provide a higher quality of work, in addition to contributing ideas and solutions for our individuals to live a fulfilling, joyful life.”
With this project, Venture is not only addressing immediate staffing needs but also strengthening the foundation for long-term excellence in care:
"Recruitment efforts to increase staffing levels result in support to current DSPs and program management to get their jobs done as efficiently and effectively as possible. This in turn helps programs provide even greater levels of family-like care and services to the people we support." - Lisa Kirrane
Meeting Challenges with Innovation
Considering the strains on our current dedicated staff and the potential lapse in care for individuals, the DSP Recruitment and Retention Project was given the utmost priority and innovation to ensure success. Our DSP team embraced a dynamic and multifaceted approach that included several key initiatives:
- Enhanced Recruitment Efforts: Attending recruiting events across Rockland County and sharing trilingual hiring posts and flyers in public spaces and on social media.
- Streamlined Application Process: Redesigning our website to make applying easier and introducing innovations for involving program management in the interview process at the main office to align candidates with the appropriate Venture program.
- Community Outreach: Amplifying our message through flyer distribution led by Emerson Theagene and raising brand awareness with newly designed Venture Together merchandise.
- Staff Feedback and Recognition: Conducting retention interviews with DSPs, leading to a renewed focus on staff appreciation and recognition initiatives.
Looking Forward
Venture Together is proud to call itself an Employer of Choice—an organization that invests in its employees with competitive compensation, professional development opportunities, and a culture of appreciation.
"Through running DSP Recruitment and Retention projects, VT listens, learns, and acts on feedback from our staff to support them in bringing their best selves to work."
-Lisa Kirrane
This project has set a foundation for sustainable recruitment and retention efforts that will continue to strengthen our team and our mission. Together, we are building a future where every individual receives the care and support they need and deserve, powered by a passionate and committed workforce.
To our staff, partners, and supporters—thank you for being part of this journey. Together, we are creating extraordinary lives.
Meet the Team
Our DSP Recruitment & Retention Committee comprised a diverse and innovative team that brought their unique strengths and expertise to the group, ensuring that all opinions, perspectives, and opportunities were recognized and utilized. The team included:
Team Sponsor:
Matt Shelley, CEO
Team Lead:
Lisa Kirrane, CHRO
Core Team:
- Brittany Gaynor, HR Manager for Recruitment and Onboarding
- Dante Giordano, Director of Training
- Diana Martinez, Assistant Day Program Director, Creative Venture
- Emma McCormick, Marketing & Communications Manager
- Emerson Theagene, Direct Support Professional
- Krista Bilodeau, Director of Day Habilitation Programming
- Laticia Thezan, Director of Community Habilitation and Respite Services
- Ruth Sanchez, HR Manager for Benefits and Leaves
Extended Team:
- Cathy Nafz, Assistant to the CPO
- Dana Andrews, Staff Development Specialist
- Marie Pardi, CPO
- Mireille Dumas, HR Manager
- Latanya Sanders, Residential Supervisor
