Back to Annual Meeting

Back to Annual Meeting

APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Jeffrey R.W. Knudsen, MA, RMC Research Corporation, 111 SW Columbia St, Suite 1200, Portland, OR 97201, 503 223-8248, jknudsen@rmccorp.com and Steven L. Gallon, PhD, Northwest Frontier Addiction Technology Transfer Center, 810 D Street NE, Salem, OR 97301.

In the fall of 2005, the Northwest Frontier Addiction Technology Transfer Center (NFATTC), in collaboration with RMC Research Corporation, administered a substance abuse treatment workforce survey to agency directors and clinical staff in the Pacific Northwest region (Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington). Surveys were sent to 666 agency directors representing 895 treatment facilities. Agency directors were asked to complete the director version of the survey, and to distribute up to five staff surveys at each facility they managed. In total, over 400 director surveys were completed, along with over 1400 clinical staff surveys. Survey content addressed multiple issues including demographics, academic and professional background, staff turnover, recruitment and retention issues, and staff proficiency and training interests. Results selected for presentation highlight the issue of turnover, examining: (1) past turnover behavior of directors and clinicians (number of agencies worked for; reasons for departure; etc), (2) likelihood of directors and clinicians leaving the field, (3) individual level predictors of turnover, (4) turnover rates for agencies across the region, and (5) agency level predictors of turnover. Recruitment and retention strategies are also highlighted.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will

• Better understand the nature of the turnover issue in the substance abuse treatment field
• Better understand contextual and personal factors related to turnover
• Identify strategies to increase staff retention

Keywords: Workforce, Substance Abuse Treatment

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered