The DCA Invests in Your Future — and Its Own

The event was called “Investing in Your Future,” but the Direct Care Alliance’s September 11 reception was a reminder of how much the DCA has done lately to brighten its own future.

Although the organization was founded about a decade ago, a new focus on supporting direct-care worker associations and empowering individual direct-care worker leaders has given it fresh momentum over the past few months.

In a speech to the attendees, DCA Executive Director Leonila Vega said the new momentum started with the DCA’s national conference in 2007, which brought together representatives of 18 direct-care worker associations for an intensive learning experience. That excitement was built on this spring by the first session of the Voices Institute, which Vega called “a great place for workers to learn to advocate for themselves.”

Another landmark was the DCA’s declaration of independence as it spun off from PHI, the organization that founded it. This year, the DCA left PHI’s office to move into a beautiful old building within sight of Grand Central Station in the middle of Manhattan.

At the reception to inaugurate that new space, DCA Board Chair John Booker extended a warm welcome to the 50 or 60 long-term care stakeholders in attendance before introducing Stacey Easterling of The Atlantic Philanthropies.

Easterling praised the DCA for giving voice to “a group that is essentially voiceless when it comes to impacting the direction of the long term care field. Not only am I certain that DCWs have a lot to say, they have important things to say,” she added.

She also acknowledged the vision and support of Steve Dawson of PHI and Chris Langston of the John A. Hartford Foundation, who started the DCA. “A few years later, we see the DCA continuing to establish itself,” she said, “but most importantly, we see more DCW associations gaining strength in asserting their own agenda for improving the field of long-term care. Their work has a long way to go, but it has begun.” The Atlantic Philanthropies is one of the DCA’s main funders.

Direct-care worker Bridget Siljander, a graduate of the Voices Institute, spoke next, talking about the transformative power of the institute and the need to advocate for better wages, benefits, and support for direct-care workers.

“The reception presented an excellent opportunity to share the DCA message – and what an optimistic and exciting message this is!” Siljander says. “The DCA provides direct care workers with a national network and great support, as we work hard to empower the direct care profession and improve the long-term care and community supports systems.

“The DCA has much to be proud of, and even more to look forward to over the next years.”

The Hartford Foundation’s Langston agrees. “This was essentially a coming-out party for the Direct Care Alliance, which is finding its footing,” he says. “It is mobilizing the three groups of stakeholders, getting direct-care workers to raise their voices, and becoming the organization that it is meant to be.

“The reception was an impressive event. It brought together leaders in the direct-care field with direct-care workers who are becoming leaders, so other important stakeholders could hear from the workforce itself.”

Elise Nakhnikian
Communications Director, Direct Care Alliance