SUPPORTING PROFESSIONALS AT-RISK - EVALUATING INTERVENTIONS TO REDUCEBURNOUT AND IMPROVE RETENTION OF SPECIAL EDUCATORS

This article describes a controlled study of 92 special educators and related service providers that evaluated the effects of two interventi ons (a series of stress-management workshops and a peer-collaboration program) on factors Known to be correlated with actual turnover (burno ut job satisfaction, and organizational commitment). Results indicated that improvements on dependent variables occurred as a function of in tervention, thus suggesting that the programs shaw promise as means of providing on-the-job support for such professionals at risk of burnou t or exiting the field. In addition, participants perceived the target ed skills and strategies to be practical valuable ways to prevent or a lleviate job burnout.