A study of employee stability and turnover in home-based early intervention

Unusually high turnover rates in early intervention programs will contribute significantly to the documented shortage of qualified personnel needed for the successful implementation of PL 99-457, forcing policy makers to consider options for maximizing the retention of personnel presently in the field. This study was conducted to provide an initial indication of the extent of turnover among early childhood interventionists working in a statewide network of home-based early intervention programs. Results indicated that the mean length of service of staff was increasing (2.5 years in 1985; 3.5 years in 1988) whereas the mean length of service of related therapists and specialists employed as consultants was decreasing (2.9 years, 1985; 2.2 years, 1988). The findings also revealed that 49% of staff and 38% of consultants remained employed over a 2.7 year period, while 68% of directors of programs remained during the same period. The results of the study are compared to turnover rates and length of service for various related settings described in the literature, and implications for further research are discussed.