Direct Care Alliance E-News
Leading the Way to Quality Care Through Quality Jobs
September 2007 - Vol 1, Issue 1

Welcome to the first Direct Care Alliance E-Newsletter.  We plan to develop this format to build and communicate with the growing network of associations, coalitions and individuals who share our of goal creating a high quality long term care system.  Creating a powerful nationwide alliance of consumers, direct care workers and their employers, policy makers and advocates is our goal.  Please share this newsletter with your friends and colleagues and let us know what you think.

  • Leonila Vega, Executive Director - lvega@directcarealliance.org / (718) 928-2063
  • Roy Gedat, Field Coordinator - rgedat@directcarealliance.org / (207) 739-9179
  • Don Pirozzoli, Field Coordinator - dpirozzoli@directcarealliance.org / (608) 354-8973
First National Convention of Direct Care Worker Associations
LogoDes Moines, Iowa :  On August 15-17, 2007, the DCA sparked a national movement of direct-care activists-a strong and caring core group of individuals committed to working together to
improve the quality of long-term care for consumers by
improving the quality of the direct-care job. One of the outcomes of this event, the launch of the Voices Institute, will
continue to energize this new national network of worker associations, workers, employers, and consumers.
What's Next?
The Iowa convention has informed us in a number of exciting ways.  Compiling the results of our time together has been a wonderful activity affording incredible visioning and goal setting.  Thanks for your ideas and PLEASE keep them coming.

Priority One:  Nurture the development of a national network of direct care worker associations and coalitions to amplify our message and advocate for policy change to provide quality jobs, long term care reform, and quality care.  This will be accomplished through education, effective communication and collaboration, and DCA provided services, tools and products. A steering committee of current association and worker leaders is being formulated to move forward on what is expected to be an ongoing initiative of the DCA.  Call or email us if you want to join!

Priority Two:  Launch the Voices Institute to expand the knowledge and skills of workers, consumers, employers, labor, advocates and policy makers who support the mission and principals of the DCA.  A reputable and prestigious oversight committee to help plan and organize the institute as an integral and ongoing component of the DCA is being recruited as staff and consultants begin planning and delivering specific programs and activities.  Share your opinions and recommendations please!

Priority Three:  Strengthen the DCA's and allied state based worker associations and advocacy coalitions communications and messaging capacity to provide an effective national voice to the Quality Care through Quality Jobs campaign.
New DCA Website!  Please help
We are looking for workers and association leaders who what to join a special planning/review committee to re-design the DCA website.  We want to create an interactive network of our essential partners including workers, consumers, employers, labor, advocates and policy makers.  New media like videos, messaging, and on-line tools and services will be utilized.  YOUR IDEAS AND INVOLVEMENT ARE SOUGHT!  Call or email Roy if you want to help.
AARP Foundation offers scholarships to help "mature" women discover new lives and new futures

The AARP Foundation is dedicated to creating new opportunities for individuals to re-enter the workforce or obtain better employment so that they will be more financially secure in the second half of life.  New job opportunities, however, often require additional skills, time and money. The right education and training can sometimes be out-of-reach, especially for individuals with limited financial resources.

The Women's Scholarship Program is accepting applications until October 31st to help women 40+ overcome financial and employment barriers by allowing them to participate in education and training opportunities they could not otherwise afford.

For more information click here!
Thank you for your time and attention.  We hope you found this interesting and worthwhile.  If you want to see some more photo's of DCA Convention in Iowa click here.

Sincerely,

Leonila, Don & Roy

Direct Care Alliance

Our Mission:  We are a nationwide and statebased alliance of direct-care workers, employers, and people of all ages and disabilities who use long term services, care and supports. We are united to build an empowered and valued professional direct care workforce essential to ensuring high quality services, a life of dignity, respect, autonomy and opportunity for all to participate in community life.