Direct Care Alliance
Direct Care Alliance Newsletter
Building Unity for a valued direct-care workforce
February, 2008 - Vol 2, Issue 2
Quick Links
DCA BLOG
Join Our Mailing List!
 1st Annual National Leadership Training:  Apply Now!

The Voices Institute is now recruiting the first class of direct care workers to attend a 5 day intensive training scheduled for May 18th to 23rd near Milwaukee Wisconsin.  All travel, meal and lodging expenses, plus an $80/day stipend will be paid for qualified attendees.  The goal is to develop effective and powerful public leaders in states around the country.

Worker associations and coalitions are now being asked to nominate leaders to take part in this unique and exciting venture.

The Leadership Training will include:
  • A pre-training assessment/orientation that will be conducted by telephone conference and on-line;
  • The 5 day in person sessions based on empowerment, skills and experience building exercise;
  • A Follow-up ongoing coaching and mentoring program;
  • Outreach and recruitment of others to join and expand this effort.
More details and application materials are available on line at the DCA website.

The unique and powerful experience has been developed and will be delivered by DCA Board member Vera Salter, PHI NY Training Manager MariaElena Del Valle and DCA "Sustainability" Consultant Bob Hudek.

Organizations are encouraged to submit at least two nominations each. Nominations are due March 5. The Voices Institute advisory committee will review the nominations and announce the first class of 25 in mid-March.  Don't hesitate to call or email the DCA for more information.

DCA Voices Institute launches web based seminar series

DCA's Voices Institute is pleased to announce its Web based seminar series schedule for January- June 2008.

The DCA's Voices Institute is a training and capacity-building initiative which will provide direct care workers, consumers and employers with leadership, advocacy and organizational development skills they need to work effectively with one another to improve long-term direct care.

The "webinar" series involves a conference call and a simultaneous on-line computer presentation.  Each session is one hour, free to all participants and includes discussion, question and answer periods and follow-up.  Our primary trainer is sustainability consultant Bob Hudek.

More details and our tentative schedule are now posted on the DCA BLOG.

A marketing plan, program brochure and follow-up technical assistance are being developed.  The "webinars" can also be provided on a scheduled basis to specific associations, coalitions and allied organizations.

For more information and/or an invitation to any or all of the web-based seminars please call/email Roy Gedat at rgedat@directcarealliance.org or 207 739-9179.
DCA Is Seeks to Expand State Activity

The Direct Care Alliance (DCA) is currently seeking letters of interest from direct care worker organizations and coalitions to be considered for assistance in 2008-09. Currently the DCA has established Maine, Wisconsin and Arizona as priority states for technical assistance and other resources. We wish to add at least 3 more states for focused assistance in areas such as sustainability, membership development, organizational development, leadership development, and other areas.

Representatives of worker associations and coalitions who attended the DCA's Convention this summer are being asked for an indication of their interest and qualifications. This information will be compiled and enhanced by staff and Board members in order to make recommendations to the entire DCA Board of Directors in April.

More details are on the DCA website.
 
Ask Di:  A new DCA Feature
The DCA has recently engaged Iowa CareGivers Association Executive Director Di Findley to develop tools and materials to assist with the development of direct care worker associations.  One feature we are previewing today are questions posed to Di from around the country.....and her answers.

Here's the first one: 

Di,

Do you have any tips we can use on how to set up a state direct care worker conference?  For instance is there a  Uniform Fashion?  Do you pay speakers to present and workers/agencies to participate?  Do you do contracts?  How is the venue chosen?  Any suggestions you might offer will be most appreciated.
 
Thank you

Follow this Link for Di's response.......
News from the States

  • The Iowa CareGivers Association is still waiting for a response from the Presidential candidate who portrayed direct care workers as emptying bedpans (click HERE Newspaper op-ed & see our last issue for more details) but the worker association is making great strides advancing policy that will ensure direct care workers health coverage.   The state's new broadbased health reform proposal includes a special provision aimed at direct care workers!  See page 16, lines 20 -29.
  • In New Hampshire, direct care worker and DCA Board member Jenn Craigue recently testified on a bill that would require "work related travel time" be paid for direct care workers.  The response to this bill and Jenn's testimony was positive and it is hopeful this measure will be passed into law.
  • The Pennsylvania Direct Care Worker Association is in the process of reconstituting itself after it's sponsoring agency's Better Jobs Better Care grant ran out.  They are planning a regional conference on May 1st and have established a couple of blogs (Leigh Valley Chapter and Schuylkill County).
  • Vermont's Association of Professional Caregivers has a community forum on supporting caregivers scheduled for March first hosted by United States Senator Bernie Sanders.  For details.
  • In Wisconsin plans for a direct care worker image campaign, an advocacy focus on  increasing long term care reimbursement rates, health care reform and  a family care summit of stakeholders focused on workforce are in the works. The newly formed Wisconsin Direct Caregiver Alliance is launching a membership drive and developing its own legislative agenda.
  • Maine's Direct Care Worker Coalition and the Maine Personal Assistance Services Association teamed up with employers and consumers to testify for a "Health Care for Health Care Workers" bill.  Supported by PHI's HCHCW project, the policy initiative was received well and garnered much encouragement.  The Bill's status is uncertain due to the state's financial picture.
There is much more to report but space and your time prohibits any more being backed into this issue.  We thank you for your time and attention and finish by reminding all of our mission.  

The DCA Mission:  We are a nationwide and state-based 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.

Sincerely,
 
Leonila Vega, Executive Director
lvega@directcarealliance.org
718 928-2063

Roy Gedat, National Advocacy Director
rgedat@directcarealliance.org
207 739-9179