The Direct Care News 
For direct care workers and their allies August 13, 2013
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How I Became a Direct Care Worker Advocate
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 | | Sunny Smith |
I've worked as a professional direct care worker for more than 25 years, off and on (mostly on), between other jobs. In-home caregiving is where I'm most happy. I feel, as most of us do, that it's a calling. But just because we love our work doesn't mean we should have to live in poverty, go on food stamps or rely on Medicaid. We deserve basic benefits like paid sick time and affordable health care. Many of us are left out of those basic benefits due to a lack of understanding, appreciation and respect for our work. And, through no fault of our own, lack of training often causes safety issues for our clients and ourselves.
About five years ago, I was offered the opportunity to join the Arizona Direct Care Worker Association, a grassroots professional organization. I said yes immediately and wrote a check for a whopping $10 a year. You see, I knew what it means to be a part of an association. Read more from Sunny Smith.
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Direct from Washington, D.C.
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Long-Term Care Legislation Introduced in U.S. Senate: On August 1, Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) introduced a package of legislation to help ensure high quality long-term care (LTC) for older adults. The package includes the Long-Term Care Insurance Consumer Right-to-Know Act (S.1473), the Long-Term Care Integrity Act (S.1481) and the Americans Giving Care to Elders Act (S.1485), which was introduced with Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD). The bills seek to help consumers understand what is covered in LTC insurance policies, protect those seeking to make claims on their policies, and establish a federal tax fund credit to help with the costs of caring for an aging family member. Open Letter to U.S. House of Representatives Calls for Economic Justice in Immigration Reform: Direct Care Alliance has signed an open letter to all members of the U.S. House of Representatives urging that they recognize access to health care and nutrition assistance and full participation in the Social Security system and U.S. tax programs as a necessary part of immigration reform. Immigration reform could offer significant benefits to thousands of direct care workers nationwide. Organizations can sign on to the letter until August 14 at 5 p.m. ET.
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Learn About Your FMLA Rights and Share Your Stories
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 As part of its year-long celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), the National Partnership for Woman and Families, which was instrumental in getting the law passed, has issued a new guide to FMLA. The guide clearly explains who is and is not covered, how to use your FMLA leave and what to do if your employer violates your FMLA rights. FMLA is a national law that allows workers to take job-protected leave to care for a newborn or newly adopted child or seriously ill family member, or to recover from a serious health problem of their own. The new guide is part of a year-long campaign by the National Partnership and its allies, including Direct Care Alliance, to amend the law so it can help working families even more. Read more.
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