CDSN Services


The CDSN is about helping agencies recruit and retain committed and qualified direct support staff.  We can also improve your HR administration, allowing you to focus on your core mission—providing person-centered services for people with developmental disabilities.

Remember, when you use the CDSN, your agency remains the employer, and you retain decision-making power over who you hire and fire and how your staff is supervised. The role of the CDSN is to carry out your human resource and administrative paperwork and to help you recruit, retain and professionalize your workforce by providing the following:


Recruiting Services


With the help of a sophisticated recruitment website and outreach activities in your local communities, CDSN recruits and refers qualified workers to its customer agencies. Once you have selected your employee, CDSN processes new hire paperwork.

How this benefits your agency:

  • Get access to a broader pool of qualified workers for the people you serve.
  • Save administrative time and expense previously spent advertising, screening unqualified candidates, and processing new hires.
  • Improve your new hire success rate by educating applicants about the job before you hire.

Customized Training Programs for Direct Support Workers and Front-line Supervisors


CDSN client agencies may access the complete College of Direct Support and its companion College of Frontline Supervisor and Management developed by the University of Minnesota Regional Training Center (UNM RTC) at no cost. The CDSN will provide agencies with assessment and monitoring to track staff progress and evaluate the effectiveness of the trainings. The CDSN will also develop a complete pilot worker training program that integrates on-line and “live” training and mentoring.

Examples of the types of training offered are:

New Employee Orientation: CDSN client agencies may access modules of the on-line College of Direct Support for orientation and training of new employees. Client agencies can choose from College’s’ fourteen training modules designed for front-line staff.

Supervisor Training: CDSN client agencies may access the complete four module College of Frontline Supervisor and Management for their supervisors and lead staff.

Incumbent Worker Training and Career Development: The CDSN is developing a pilot training program that integrates the College of Direct Support on-line training with on-the-job and classroom training that provides students with concrete opportunities for advancement. The training program is designed by the UC Berkeley Labor Center and the UNM RTC and will be customized to agency needs. UMN RTC assessment tools will be used to map the specific skills and competencies that are needed in each agency, to determine the number of workers to be trained, and to customize training for available advancement opportunities.

Training for Consumers and Family Members: The CDSN offers workshops for consumers and families on staff selection and supervision and integration of paid and natural supports.

How this benefits your agency:

  • Build a culture of retention in your agency that will reduce turnover
  • Save time training new workers while customizing training to your needs to ensure that workers understand your agency and your consumers.
  • Build the specific skills that your agency needs to serve its unique consumers.
  • Create commitment to skills development and quality improvement throughout the agency.

Payroll Services


CDSN pays employees under each agency's tax ID and processes unemployment claims, garnishments, deductions, and tax filings. CDSN will comply with all relevant employment statutes and regulations.

How this benefits your agency:

  • Save money on your payroll service.
  • Print checks each pay period at your location, saving time and money on courier services.
  • Give your employees direct deposit options.
  • Access the call-in service for emergency checks with a same-day turnaround.
  • Get your agency payroll reports online and in print.

Human Resource Administration


CDSN provides full-service human resource administration and support with everything from file maintenance to reporting to legal compliance. A human resource professional is available to field questions from employers five days a week during business hours. CDSN will use an electronic human resource information system (HRIS) to track employee data, including time off benefits, leaves of absence, and benefit eligibility. CDSN will produce reports to each agency, analyzing for individual agencies key measurements such as turnover and recruitment cost per hire.

CDSN will be a resource for client agencies on compliance with local, state and federal law and regulations. CDSN staff can provide guidance in employee relations issues, as needed and desired by each client agency.

How it benefits your agency:

  • Access HR professionals for guidance and support.
  • Ensure legal compliance in all HR activities and with new laws and regulations.
  • Reduce the time you spend on administrative headaches.
  • Access information and analysis that allow you to improve processes and make strategic decisions.

Employee Benefits and Insurance


CDSN client agencies maintain their own benefit plans and programs, including but not limited to health insurance benefits, 401 (k) plans, unemployment accounts, and worker’s compensation policies. CDSN manages all the administrative paperwork and tracking for these plans and programs, to assure correct record-keeping and reporting. CDSN manages workers compensation and unemployment insurance claims. CDSN also manages and administers COBRA health insurance benefits.

CDSN is a resource for client agencies for obtaining cost-effective health insurance and worker's compensation insurance. CDSN can help with health care insurance plan design, as requested by client agencies.

How it benefits your agency:

  • CDSN provides one-stop administrative support and record keeping.
  • CDSN helps negotiate the best insurance plans and rates for your agency.