The Direct Care News 
For direct care workers and their allies September 10, 2013
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Measuring What Makes a Good Direct Care Worker
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 | | Ameia Yen-Patton |
Georgia P. Ameia Yen-Patton is a gerontological nurse practitioner who recently completed a PhD in nursing. In this Q&A, she shares a tool she developed for nurse managers, explaining how it can be used to identify and strengthen the core values that distinguish good caregivers. You found that direct care workers who stay in this profession do it because they have a sense of purpose and like the feeling of helping the people they assist, is that right?Yes. This is a very old principle. The direct care workers who see what they do as "just a job," who often don't stay very long, are unable to experience the value of reciprocal ethical caring. Reciprocal ethical caring is a human potential that we all have. However, in some people it has not been developed, while others express it strongly and spontaneously. Read more.
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Direct from Washington, D.C.
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Happy National Direct Support Professional Recognition Week! This past Sunday marked the start of National Direct Support Professional Recognition Week. 2013 is the sixth consecutive year that the U.S. Senate has recognized this crucial workforce. This year's week of recognition was designated by a resolution led by Senators Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Susan Collins (R-ME) that was unanimously approved by the full Senate on July 31. The resolution was cosponsored by Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Jay Rockefeller (D-WV), Mark Udall (D-CO) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA). Thomas Perez Sworn in as Labor Secretary: On September 4, Thomas E. Perez was sworn in as Secretary of the Department of Labor (DOL). DCA's Jessica Brill Ortiz attended the ceremony, at which Vice President Joe Biden administered the oath of office to Perez. DCA looks forward to continued opportunities to work with Secretary Perez on current and future initiatives to improve direct care jobs. Most immediately, we are hopeful that the Secretary will finalize DOL's proposed regulations to extend the federal Fair Labor Standards Act's minimum wage and overtime protections to home care workers. Read Perez's remarks at the swearing-in ceremony.
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Why I Invest in DCA Memberships for My Direct Care Workers
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 | | Judy Clinco |
Direct care workers are the heart of my home care company. They come to the clients' homes, tend to their personal daily needs, and form crucial, often close relationships with them. It is essential to the health of my business that my direct care workers be well-informed and confident, and that both they and the people they assist understand that they are professionals.
Part of being a professional is belonging to a professional association. That is why I give all my direct care workers a membership in Direct Care Alliance as soon as they have passed their probationary period. Read more from Judy Clinco.
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Save the Date for a Free Webinar on the New Health Care Law
| On September 24 from 12 to 1 p.m. ET, DCA's National Direct Care Partnership will host a webinar titled The Health Insurance Marketplace and Its Impact on Direct Care Workers and Small Businesses.
The webinar will focus on the exchanges that are a key part of the new health care law. Participants will learn about anticipated challenges related to the exchanges, tips and resources for enrolling direct care workers and others, and tax credits and other things small businesses should be aware of.
Keep an eye out for an email later this week with information on how to register.
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