Susan N. O'Nell
Project Coordinator
Susan has 17 years experience in services to people with developmental disabilities as a direct support professional, foster care provider, trainer, curriculum development specialist, multimedia developer, writer, quality analyst, and consultant. Susan has worked at the Institute on Community Integration since 1995, and has served as a project coordinator, project evaluator, and technical assistance consultant on several projects related to the recruitment, retention, and training of direct support professionals and quality service outcomes for people with developmental disabilities.
Organization: Research and Training Center on Community Living
E-mail: (onell001@umn.edu)

• College of Direct Support: National Online Training Program for Direct Support Professionals
  The College of Direct Support (CDS) is a computer-assisted, competency-based, interactive multimedia training curriculum for direc... (More)
  
  
• Formative and Summative Evaluation of the College of Direct Support: The RTC/CL’s Web-Based Training System for DSPs and Frontline Supervisors
  This study will provide both summative and formative research to measure the benefits, guide the development and inform the revisi... (More)
  
  
• Mobilizing for Change: Supporting the Frontline Workforce
  This project is developing a national web-based training program for frontline supervisors in human service agencies to address is... (More)
  
  
• Kansans Mobilizing for Direct Support Workforce Change
  Funded by the Kansas Council on Developmental Disabilities, this project i... (More)
  
  
• Job analysis and validation of direct support professional and frontline supervisor competencies and training needs
  This national study was conducted by the Research and Training Center on Community Living in collaboration with state agencies and... (More)
  
  
• Active Support Interventions and Their Effect on Increased Participation of Persons with Severe Impairments
  Active Support (AS) is an organizational intervention to enable direct support professionals (DSPs) in community settings to effec... (More)
  
  

Frontline Initiative - Newsletter for the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP).   • Issue on Credentialing (PDF) - Volume 4, Number 2 (2000); File Size: 128 KB   • Issue on Diversity (PDF) - Volume 4, Number 1 (2000); File Size: 110 KB   • Tribute to John F. Kennedy, Jr. (PDF) - Volume 3, Number 4 (1999); File Size: 104 KB   • Issue on Complex Needs (PDF) - Volume 3, Number 3 (1999); File Size: 107 KB   • Issue on Self-Determination (PDF) - Volume 3, Number 2 (1999); File Size: 100 KB   • International Issue (PDF) - Volume 3, Number 1 (1999); File Size: 294 KB   • Issue on Communication (PDF) - Volume 2, Number 2 (1998); File Size: 284 KB   • Issue on Change (PDF) - Volume 2, Number 1 (1998); File Size: 252 KB   • Issue on Stress (PDF) - Volume 2, Number 3 (1998); File Size: 237 KB   • Issue on Professionalism (PDF) - Volume 2, Number 4 (1998); File Size: 117 KB   • Issue on Relationships (PDF) - Volume 1, Number 2 (1997); File Size: 132 KB   • Issue on Training (PDF) - Volume 1, Number 3 (1997); File Size: 131 KB   • Premier Issue (PDF) - Volume 1, Number 1 (1996); File Size: 133 KB

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National Validation Study of Competencies For Frontline Supervisors and Direct Support Professionals - This study examined organizational workforce outcomes; characteristics of and differences between managers, Frontline Supervisors (FLS) and Direct Support Professionals (DSPs); and workplace competencies, training needs, and timing of training for FLS and DSPs. Using survey methodologies, the study validated nationally the results of two comprehensive Minnesota analyses of competencies needed by DSPs and FLS, extending the existing analyses by sampling direct support professionals (DSPs), first-line supervisors (FLS) and managers in 77 agencies in five states. (2007)   • Full Report (with appendices) (PDF) (2007); File Size: 777 KB

The Minnesota Frontline Supervisor Competencies and Performance Indicators (PDF) - The purpose of the Frontline Supervisor Competencies and Performance Indicators project was to identify those competencies required of frontline supervisors providing community support services to people with developmental disabilities in order to foster the development and implementation of excellence in service provision. (1998); File Size: 328 KB

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Realistic Job Preview Overview (PDF) - Realistic Job Previews (RJP) are any method an agency or business uses to help prospective employees get a balanced picture of the positive and negative aspects of the work they will be doing and the organizational climate, prior to the offer of a position. This overview compares various RJP methods.; File Size: 28 KB

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Removing the Revolving Door: Strategies to Address Recruitment and Retention Challenges - A curriculum targeting frontline supervisors and managers regarding the use of effective recruitment, retention, and training strategies. (2001)   • Learner Guide (PDF); File Size: 989 KB   • Facilitator Guide (PDF); File Size: 1.88 MB

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The Peer Empowerment Program (PEP): A Complete Toolkit for Planning and Implementing Mentoring Programs Within Community-Based Human Services Organizations - A curriculum designed to create a mentoring program in community-based human service organizations. (2001)   • Learner Guide (PDF); File Size: 250 KB   • Program Coordinator & Facilitator Guide (PDF); File Size: 511 KB

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The Power of Diversity: Supporting the Immigrant Workforce - A curriculum to assist supervisors and other agency staff find, support, and retain immigrant workers which includes a Facilitator Guide and a Learner Guide. (2001)   • Learner Guide (PDF); File Size: 622 KB   • Facilitator Guide (PDF); File Size: 1.46 MB

College of Direct Support - The College of Direct Support (CDS) is a computer-assisted, competency-based, interactive multimedia training curriculum for direct support professionals in community settings.

•	College of Frontline Supervision and Management - The College of Frontline Supervision (CFS) is an online multimedia training resource focusing on the topics of how to recruit, train, and retain high quality direct support professionals.

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  Books and Monographs

• Hewitt, A., & O'Nell, S. (1999). With a little help from my friends: A series on contemporary supports to people with mental retardation. Washington, DC: President's Committee on Mental Retardation.
  
  

  Book Chapters

• Lakin, K. C., Hewitt, A., Bast, J., O’Nell, S., & Sajevic, P. (1998). A demonstration to test performance-based outcome measures as a foundation to a quality assurance/quality enhancement system. In J. Gardner (Ed.), Outcome-based performance measurement in disability services. Baltimore: Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co.
  
  

  Technical Reports

• Hewitt, A., Larson, S., Sauer, J., & O'Nell, S. (1998). Training trainers towards excellence. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota, Research and Training Center on Community Living/Institute on Community Integration.
  
  
• Hewitt, A., Larson, S., Sauer, J., & O'Nell, S. (1998). Values and visions for Minnesotans with disabilities. University of Minnesota, Research and Training Center on Community Living/Institute on Community Integration.
  
  
• Hewitt, A., Larson, S., Sauer, J., Anderson, L., & O’Nell, S. (2001). Partnerships for Success: Retaining Incumbent Community Support Human Service Workers by Upgrading their Skills and Strengthening Partnerships among Workforce Centers, Educational Programs, and Private Businesses. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota: Research and Training Center, Institute on Community Integration.
  
  
• Hewitt, A., O'Nell, S., Lei, N., Sauer, J., & Larson, S. (2000). Supporting an immigrant workforce: a resource for supervisors and managers of community support services for people with disabilities. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota, Research and Training Center on Community Living/Institute on Community Integration.
  
  
• Hewitt, A., O'Nell, S., Smith, J., Bast, J., Larson, S., & Lakin, K. C. (1998). An evaluation of alternative methods to assure and enhance the quality of long-term care services for persons with developmental disabilities through performance based contracts. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota, Research and Training Center on Community Living/Institute on Community Integration.
  
  
• Larson, S. A., Sauer, J., Hewitt, A., O’Nell, S., & Sedlezky, L. (1998). SOS training and technical assistance project for direct support professionals, trainers and frontline supervisors: Final Report. Minneapolis: Research and Training Center on Community Living, Institute on Community Integration, University of Minnesota.
  
  
• Larson, S., Hewitt, A., Anderson, L., Sauer, J., and O’Nell, S. (2000). Minnesota review and Analysis of Trends in Agency Maltreatment Reports. Minneapolis: Institute on Community Integration, University of Minnesota, College of Education and Human Development.
  
  
• Taylor, M., Hewitt, A., Silver, J., O'Nell, S., & Sauer, J. (2000). Peer mentoring: a resource for supervisors and managers of community support agencies. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota, Research and Training Center on Community Living/Institute on Community Integration.
  
  

  Training Curricula

• Hewitt, A., O'Nell, S., & Scaletta, K. (2000). Friends, Neighbors and Co-workers, Version 2 (multimedia interactive CD ROM). Minneapolis: University of Minnesota, Research and Training Center on Community Living/Institute on Community Integration.