The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #60271

J. Aaron Johnson, PhD¹, Hannah K. Knudsen, MA¹, and Paul M. Roman, PhD². (1) Center for Research on Behavioral Health and Human Services Delivery, University of Georgia, 101 Barrow Hall, D. W. Brooks Drive, Athens, GA 30602, 7065426054, ajohns@arches.uga.edu, (2) Institute for Behavioral Research, University of Georgia, 101 Barrow Hall, D. W. Brooks Drive, Athens, GA 30602

In order to deliver effective treatment services, substance abuse treatment centers must employ a high quality staff of counselors. High levels of staff turnover within substance abuse treatment centers threaten the quality of the services being delivered. Previous research has shown that the turnover rate among substance abuse treatment counselors is well above the national average. The turnover rate and the factors contributing to turnover may vary between types of treatment settings. This study examines the relationships between management practices, organizational commitment, burnout, and turnover intention among substance abuse treatment counselors employed in three distinct treatment settings. Data are derived from 3300 counselor questionnaires collected as part of the National Treatment Center Study, a study of 400 public centers, 400 private centers, and 400 therapeutic communities. Separate structural equation models are tested for counselors employed in each of the three types of centers to check for consistency across settings. The causal and protective factors associated with turnover intention are identified, and recommendations are made for reducing turnover within these distinct settings.

Learning Objectives:

• The information presented will allow the audience to recognize the significance of the staff turnover problem in substance abuse treatment centers while becoming able to identify the variations in turnover across treatment settings. In addition, audience members will learn about management practices that can reduce staff turnover, which is knowledge that can be applied in other health care settings.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.