Direct Support Professionals Workforce

North Carolina is currently facing a critical shortage of DSPs, significantly affecting the availability and quality of home and community-based services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). The DSP Workforce Plan outlines the Department's comprehensive, multi-year strategy to address this shortage and reaffirms our commitment to supporting DSPs and the vital services they provide. Implementation of the plan will begin on July 1.

Direct Support Professionals (DSP) Incentives – Round Two

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) is continuing its commitment to strengthening the Direct Support Professional (DSP) workforce with Round Two of the DSP Recruitment and Retention Incentive Program. This funding will support efforts to recruit and retain DSPs, ensuring that individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) receive high-quality care in their communities.

Please review the linked instructional video for a walkthrough on how to submit an application.
Instructional Video

Please review the provided application assistance documents:
DSP Incentives Program Round 2 Application
DSP Incentive Program Round 2 FAQ

Additionally, the team will be available during the following office hours:
Tuesday, May 6th at 6:00 PM
Thursday, May 8th at 2:00 PM
Tuesday, May 13th at 10:00 AM

Important: Only one application per agency or Employer of Record (EOR) is permitted. Submitting multiple applications will result in disqualification.
Live application
Please note the application will close at 5pm on May 27th, 2025. Submissions after this time will not be accepted.