I was asked to speak at the Iowa CareGivers Association’s annual meeting in Des Moines this week. My topic was Recognition: A National Voice. I thought you might like to hear what I said.
Good Evening,
My name is Ray Erickson. I am a Certified Medication Aide in an 88-bed SNF. I have worked the last 22 ½ years in the health care industry. I got my start just after my 17th birthday, when I enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserves in Sioux City. I spent two years serving my country in the reserves as a navy corpsman. I have spent the last twenty years working in nursing facilities. Just this last week, I celebrated my fifteenth year at my current facility.
I am also an EMT-B here in the state of Iowa. I also have a CNA and Restorative Aide certification.
I joined ICA in the fall of 2002 with my wife, Vicki Erickson, who is a member of the Direct Care Worker Leadership Council. During the last year, I have taken the ICA Leadership program in Boone.
In May of this year, I had the honor to represent Iowa at the National Level by attending DCA’s Voices Institute leadership training in Racine, Wisconsin, with Vicki. We went through an intensive training for five days. During those five days, we were taught many ways on preparing speeches, public speaking, and working with multiple stakeholders. It was interesting seeing 25 people from 12 different states coming together for one cause, advocating for the direct care worker, consumer, and employer. We all have to work together as a team to make direct care a more fulfilling profession.
Recently, I was invited by a another member of ICA to sit in and observe the Advisory Council on Educational Standards for DCWs that came from the Iowa governor’s Direct Care Worker Educational Task Force. I found this group committed to improving the educational standards for all direct care workers. It was nice to see so many different stakeholders come together as one for the good of direct care workers. I know this is not an easy process, but I was quite impressed.
During the five years as a member of ICA, I have watched the ICA grow to have over 3,600 members. I see the ICA continuing to grow in the future. They have been very active in having members speak with their legislators about improving healthcare benefits and wages for direct care workers. Having the members of ICA and other direct care workers from across the state of Iowa lobby and tell their stories helped get the Healthcare Reform Act of 2008 legislated, passed and signed into law. This has been a sixteen-year endeavor for the ICA and all direct care workers from across Iowa.
I see ICA continuing to be a leader and mentor to other states that are trying to start up their own associations for direct care workers.
In conclusion, I see ICA going a long way into the 21st century in advocating for the direct care workers. The direct care workers of Iowa are the leaders that are a part of a movement at the state and national levels that are bringing about great changes for those of us who work in the direct care field.
For any direct care workers here, remember what we do is not just a job. It is a profession and a career. WE ARE PROFESSIONALS. We cannot let anyone tell us any different. We need to stand up and be proud of our dedication and professionalism.
Thank you for your time.
Ray Erickson, CMA
Iowa CareGivers Association
