Community and Policy Studies announces the 3rd Article on Community and Disability in the PA Times, e-newsletter of the American Society for Public Administration: The 21st century support workforce in the US (Racino, 2013, copyrighted) 
http://patimes.pointsoftouch.com/21st-century-direct-support-workforce-united-states/.

Discussion questions related to the articles are suggested, including the following:

1. What does your community services workforce consist of in your agency and local community? Do you see your workforce as part of the nursing home industry (e.g., home care), the independent living centers, the mental health agencies, the United Way agencies,  the private counseling and physical therapy practices, the neighborhood centers, and so forth?

2. What (1) educational degrees (by level - AA, BA, MA, PHD, MD), (2) disciplinary fields (e.g., psychology, social work, rehabilitation, liberal arts, human services, nursing, speech therapists, disability studies, inclusive education, and so forth), (3) business managerial ("office") (e.g., business secreterial, accounting, human resources, business management), etc.)?

3.  Who provides health and human services leadership for your agency (e.g., public administration and disability, disability public policy, rehabilitation administration, public health masters, health services management, social work administration, psychiatric rehabilitation, public administration, law (and not administrative law), nursing administration, special education administration, aging administration, and so forth)?

4. What other sectors does the National Direct Service Workforce Resource Center need to address, such as traumatic brain injury? Or what is the associated plan for training related workforces, such as support groups in diabetes, cancer, or rare diseases?

5. Would you endorse a Community Services Administration Workforce Center in the US? Or is the current system of awarding administration degrees sufficient (not locational based, e.g., institution or community)?

6. What kinds of education, degrees, certificates, training, online courses, personnel (e.g., the new direct support professional) would you suggest be pursued? Community and Policy Studies suggests two certificate progrmas: an Executive level in Community Services Administration and a Disability Specialist in Public Administration.

Community and Policy Studies recommends over  20 full semester courses which could form the core of a Masters or PhD program in Public Administration and Disability. 

Julie Ann Racino, 9/27/2013