Direct Support Professional Takes Top Job at Voices Institute

The Direct Care Alliance got the right person for the job this week when direct support professional Bridget Siljander moved into the newly created position of Coordinator of the Voices Institute.

A graduate of the Voices Institute National Leadership Program’s first class, Bridget has provided care and supports to elders and people with disabilities for the past 12 years. She has worked in hospitals, group homes, and nursing homes, but most of her work has been in home care. For the past nine years, she was the primary aide for one home care client.

In addition, she chairs the Direct Support Professional Association of Minnesota and writes curriculum for the National College of Direct Support. She is also a member of the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals board of directors’ Advocacy and Legislation Committee. On top of that, she is a member of the Alliance for Full Participation – and, until she moved into her new position, she worked half-time as a direct care worker specialist for the DCA.

“Bridget’s proven leadership abilities, professionalism, commitment to excellence and personal knowledge of the direct care workforce made her an ideal choice to lead our signature program,” says DCA Executive Director Leonila Vega. “Her addition to the DCA staff marks a historic expansion and validation of our nationwide leadership development initiative. With her leadership, we will achieve our goal of expanding our state and regional Voices Institute leadership programs.”

The DCA’s Voices Institute trains and nurtures worker leaders. Its ultimate goal is to create a powerful, grassroots movement of direct care workers who can educate long-term care stakeholders and policymakers about the critical social value of direct care work and advocate for improved training, education, benefits, pay and respect for the profession.

Bridget’s key responsibilities will include:
•  Growing and coordinating all aspects of the national and state-based activities of the Voices Institute;
•  Helping to develop a growing nationwide cadre of direct care worker leaders who will work with the DCA;
•  Developing and conducting training sessions;
•  Leading state and national advocacy efforts on issues pertaining to the direct care workforce; and
•  Helping worker associations and coalitions develop as powerful change agents.

Bridget has a B.A. in Psychology with honors from the University of Minnesota. She is the proud mother of an 11-year old daughter, Imani Cruzen, and is married to Frank Lindner.

Roy Gedat
National Advocacy Director
Direct Care Alliance