The direct support workforce is in crisis. Across the country, organizations serving individuals with disabilities and aging adults face high turnover, staffing shortages, and unsustainable overtime costs. These challenges ripple outward, affecting not only agencies but also the families and individuals who rely on consistent, high-quality care.
GoodLifeU was created to tackle this problem head-on. As a nonprofit consulting service, GoodLifeU partners with agencies to strengthen their workforce through research-based strategies, innovative technology, and sustainable scheduling models. Backed by decades of applied behavioral science research from the University of Kansas, GoodLifeU is redefining how organizations recruit, train, and retain caregivers for the long term.
Why Workforce Development Can’t Wait
For many agencies, workforce instability is the biggest barrier to delivering quality services. High turnover means constant rehiring and retraining, which drains resources and disrupts care. Staff who do stay often face long hours, inconsistent schedules, and burnout. Families feel the effects directly when their loved ones are cared for by a rotating cast of staff.
Traditional training programs help build skills but often fail to address the bigger picture. Without systemic change to scheduling, pay structures, and support systems, the cycle of burnout continues. GoodLifeU was built to break that cycle.
A Four-Step Consulting Model for Real Impact
GoodLifeU doesn’t offer one-size-fits-all solutions. Instead, it follows a structured four-step consulting process that adapts to the unique challenges of each organization.
1. Discovery
The process begins with “Workforce 101,” a no-commitment introduction that helps agencies take a hard look at their current systems. Turnover rates, payroll costs, scheduling structures, and staffing capacity are evaluated to identify where the greatest opportunities for change exist.
2. Program Analysis & Redesign
Armed with data, GoodLifeU consultants partner with agency leadership to dig deeper. This phase involves analyzing payroll structures, shift designs, scheduling practices, and overtime burdens. The team then creates tailored recommendations to maximize efficiency and sustainability—such as redesigned schedules that offer staff consistency and guaranteed time off.
3. Implementation
Change is never easy, but GoodLifeU supports agencies every step of the way. From internal communication templates and marketing tools to weekly check-ins, agencies have the resources and guidance needed to roll out new schedules, pay systems, and staffing models smoothly.
4. Follow-Up and Continuous Improvement
Once changes are in place, GoodLifeU doesn’t walk away. The team monitors outcomes, measures progress, and helps agencies fine-tune their systems to ensure improvements stick. This ongoing partnership helps organizations sustain growth rather than slipping back into old habits.
Integrating iLink Technology
What sets GoodLifeU apart from other consulting services is its integration of GoodLife’s iLink technology. iLink extends the reach of direct support professionals by providing tools for remote monitoring, communication, and backup support. By incorporating technology into workforce strategies, agencies can reduce staff strain, improve safety, and ensure individuals receive high-quality care even when staff are stretched thin.
Technology is not meant to replace human caregivers but to empower them—making their jobs more manageable and sustainable. When used alongside redesigned schedules and improved pay structures, iLink becomes a powerful part of the workforce solution.
Proven Results That Matter
GoodLifeU’s approach isn’t theoretical—it delivers measurable results. Agencies that have partnered with GoodLifeU report:
- Increased capacity: More than 24,877 hours of added DSP support across participating agencies.
- Better pay: An average DSP wage increase of $3.08 per hour, achieved within existing budgets.
- Cost savings: Significant reductions in payroll costs and overtime expenses.
- Improved schedules: More consistent shifts, fewer disruptions, and guaranteed days off for staff.
These outcomes create a win-win scenario: staff feel valued and supported, organizations become more efficient, and individuals receiving services benefit from consistent, high-quality care.
Changing the Culture, Not Just the Schedule
At its core, GoodLifeU is about culture change. Rather than treating DSP roles as short-term jobs, the program reframes them as meaningful careers supported by professional development, fair compensation, and predictable schedules.
When staff feel respected and invested in, they stay. When turnover decreases, care becomes more consistent. And when agencies save money on rehiring and overtime, those resources can be reinvested in staff wages, technology, and program improvements.
Beyond Consulting: Advocacy and Collaboration
GoodLifeU doesn’t stop with workforce consulting. The program also engages in policy advocacy and hosts conferences to bring together researchers, agencies, and policymakers. By sharing best practices and pushing for systemic changes at the state and national level, GoodLifeU helps elevate the entire direct support workforce.
This collaborative spirit ensures that solutions don’t just work for one agency—they ripple outward to strengthen the broader system of care.
A Path Forward in a Time of Crisis
The workforce crisis will not solve itself, but agencies don’t have to face it alone. With GoodLifeU, there is a proven, research-backed model for creating sustainable change. By combining consulting, technology, training, and advocacy, GoodLifeU equips organizations to meet today’s challenges and prepare for tomorrow’s.
Take the Next Step with GoodLifeU
The future of caregiving depends on building stable, supported, and well-trained teams. GoodLifeU is helping agencies across the country make that vision a reality.
Discover how GoodLifeU can transform your workforce and create a brighter future for caregivers and the people they serve. Contact GoodLife today.
