The Direct Care News     transparent logo, white type
For direct care workers and their allies
 

February 7, 2012

Making the Invisible Visible

Leonila space to L
Leonila Vega

Several years ago, my colleague Roy Gedat and I decided to start what is now this newsletter, The Direct Care News, and the blog that feeds it. We saw a large void, in that there was no news being published by workers themselves about their work and barriers. We wanted the silenced voices of direct care workers to come through in our e-newsletter in reports, commentary, and poetry.

 

In other words, we didn't want a glossy marketing tool packed with expert opinions. We wanted this "invisible" workforce to become visible, speaking directly to us in their own voices, telling us about their day-to-day lives and concerns, giving us a feel for the special people they are.

 

We now have thousands of readers across this nation, who appreciate opportunities like reading home care worker and DCA Board Chair Tracy Dudzinski's report about the joy of standing behind President Obama's shoulder as he announced the proposed rule to extend minimum wage and overtime protections to home care workers.

 

This was a very gratifying moment for me, but it also pained me not to be there with her. Read more from DCA Executive Director Leonila Vega.

Direct from Washington, DC

Capitol HIll

Join us for a webinar on the home care regulations:  DCA will be one of the presenters for a webinar this Thursday on the Department of Labor's proposed rule to provide home care workers with minimum wage and overtime pay. The webinar will be hosted by Caring Across Generations. Register now.   

 

New family medical leave rule proposed: The Department of Labor announced a new rule to allow military family caregivers to take leave before, during, and after their loved ones' deployment. Learn more.    

DCA Members, Allies Comment on Proposed Rule 
Judy Clinco
Judy Clinco

Now that we're about two-thirds of the way through the public comment period on the proposed rule to extend Fair Labor Standards Act protections to home care workers, the comments are beginning to give a sense of the range and sheer number of home care stakeholders who support the rule--and the depth of their passion about this issue.

 

We've gathered a sampling of the inspirational comments submitted so far by DCA members and allies, including home care agency owner and DCA board member Clinco.  Read what they have to say.

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Direct from the Headlines
A National Council of La Raza report on Latinos in the direct care workforce explains the need for the proposed rule to give home care workers minimum wage and overtime protections.

A study of home care in Indiana finds recession-defying job growth along with average annual home health aide salaries of just $21,030 a year.


A New York Times story about "homeless families, cloaked in normality" in New York City features a home health aide forced to raise her children in a homeless shelter after Medicaid cut reduced her hours.
Leonila Vega, Executive Director
Direct Care Alliance

The Direct Care Alliance is the national advocacy voice of direct care workers in long-term care. We empower workers to speak out for better wages, benefits, respect, and working conditions, so more people can commit to direct care as a career. We also convene powerful allies nationwide to build consensus for change. 

Questions? Comments? Story ideas? Please contact Elise Nakhnikian at 646-823-7434 or enakhnikian@directcarealliance.org.