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	<title>News and Opinions « Direct Care Alliance &#187; Bridget Siljander</title>
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	<link>http://blog.directcarealliance.org</link>
	<description>What direct care worker advocates are thinking, saying and doing</description>
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		<title>Thank you</title>
		<link>http://blog.directcarealliance.org/2010/04/thank-you/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.directcarealliance.org/2010/04/thank-you/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 24 Apr 2010 21:05:46 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Bridget Siljander</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.directcarealliance.org/?p=2722</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[It is with mixed emotions that I announce my departure from the staff of the Direct Care Alliance. It is an incredible organization that is building a movement for positive change in the direct care profession. I have met many wonderful people over the years and I look forward to continuing to work with you [...]]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>4</slash:comments>
		</item>
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		<title>A Call to Direct Care Leaders, continued</title>
		<link>http://blog.directcarealliance.org/2010/03/a-call-to-direct-care-leaders-continued/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.directcarealliance.org/2010/03/a-call-to-direct-care-leaders-continued/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 18 Mar 2010 17:17:12 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Bridget Siljander</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[as leaders]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Direct care workers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CNA leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[direct care worker]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.directcarealliance.org/?p=2625</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[This is part two of a post on working together to efficiently advance change in the direct care profession. Read the first part of the post here. Setting an example We direct care worker leaders have an example to set. We need to model the highest form of conduct, if for no other reason than [...]]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
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		<title>A Call to Direct Care Leaders: Let’s bring our best selves to the cause</title>
		<link>http://blog.directcarealliance.org/2010/03/a-call-to-direct-care-leaders-let%e2%80%99s-bring-our-best-selves-to-the-cause/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.directcarealliance.org/2010/03/a-call-to-direct-care-leaders-let%e2%80%99s-bring-our-best-selves-to-the-cause/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 05 Mar 2010 15:31:28 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Bridget Siljander</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[as leaders]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Direct care workers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Featured News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[respect]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[skills and attributes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CNA]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[direct care worker]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[health care leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[nurse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[professionalism]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.directcarealliance.org/?p=2555</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[It is a critical time to become a leader… We’re starting to coagulate as a direct care worker movement, and it&#8217;s more important than ever that we unite to get things done. This is an exciting time, but it calls for more strategic thinking. Over the past year or two, I&#8217;ve been in many situations when direct [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.directcarealliance.org/2010/03/a-call-to-direct-care-leaders-let%e2%80%99s-bring-our-best-selves-to-the-cause/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>3</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Voices Institute Welcomes Another Remarkable Class</title>
		<link>http://blog.directcarealliance.org/2009/09/voices-institute-welcomes-another-remarkable-class/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.directcarealliance.org/2009/09/voices-institute-welcomes-another-remarkable-class/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 10 Sep 2009 22:06:53 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Bridget Siljander</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[as leaders]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[DCW associations/coalitions]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Delaware]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Direct care consumers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Indiana]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Iowa]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[legislation and regulation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Maine]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Minnesota]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[New Mexico]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pennsylvania]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[public policy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[training and education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Virginia]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Voices Institute]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Wisconsin]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.directcarealliance.org/?p=1798</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The Direct Care Alliance’s signature program, the Voices Institute, is about to hold its second National Leadership Program. The week-long retreat is an intensive learning journey, and this year&#8217;s class is another remarkable group, which will surely join the pioneers from the VI inaugural class to leave its mark on the direct care worker movement. We are returning to [...]]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>8</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Introducing Voices Institute Trainer and DCW Brenda Nachtway</title>
		<link>http://blog.directcarealliance.org/2009/09/introducing-voices-institute-trainer-and-dcw-brenda-nachtway/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.directcarealliance.org/2009/09/introducing-voices-institute-trainer-and-dcw-brenda-nachtway/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 08 Sep 2009 16:06:36 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Bridget Siljander</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[as leaders]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[skills and attributes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[training and education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Voices Institute]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Wisconsin]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.directcarealliance.org/?p=1792</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[ In a few short weeks, the direct care worker movement will grow stronger and more unified when direct care workers come together in Racine, Wisconsin for the Voices Institute&#8216;s second National Leadership Program (NLP). The workers in this year’s class will share their stories and learn from one another. They will also learn from a [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.directcarealliance.org/2009/09/introducing-voices-institute-trainer-and-dcw-brenda-nachtway/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Direct Care Worker Leaders Find Home in the 2009 Voices Institute Leadership Program</title>
		<link>http://blog.directcarealliance.org/2009/06/direct-care-worker-leaders-find-home-in-the-2009-voices-institute-leadership-program/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.directcarealliance.org/2009/06/direct-care-worker-leaders-find-home-in-the-2009-voices-institute-leadership-program/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 25 Jun 2009 04:59:07 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Bridget Siljander</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Advocacy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[as leaders]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Featured News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[respect]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[skills and attributes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Voices Institute]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.directcarealliance.org/?p=1238</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[A conference call isn’t usually an easy way to get to know someone, but there was a lot of laughter, sharing, and mutual support last week when the 2009 class of the Voices Institute National Leadership Program took part in a long-distance direct care worker exchange.  I was excited about getting to know these impressive [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.directcarealliance.org/2009/06/direct-care-worker-leaders-find-home-in-the-2009-voices-institute-leadership-program/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>5</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>DCW Helps Fight Proposed Cuts to Critical Disability and Aging Services in Minnesota</title>
		<link>http://blog.directcarealliance.org/2009/05/918/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.directcarealliance.org/2009/05/918/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 12 May 2009 04:05:57 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Bridget Siljander</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Advocacy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[as leaders]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[career advancement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Direct care consumers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Featured News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[legislation and regulation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Minnesota]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[public policy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[respect]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Voices Institute]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[wages and benefits]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.directcarealliance.org/?p=918</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[&#8220;Bridget Siljander calls them the &#8216;invisible workforce.&#8217; Without them, though, the fallout will be starkly clear,&#8221; begins a story that ran last week in the Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune,  one of the biggest papers in my state. The advocacy work that led to my being quoted was fueled by my participation in the Voices Institute National [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.directcarealliance.org/2009/05/918/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Voices Institute National Leadership Program Extends Deadline</title>
		<link>http://blog.directcarealliance.org/2009/04/voices-institute-extends-deadline/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.directcarealliance.org/2009/04/voices-institute-extends-deadline/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 30 Apr 2009 21:44:16 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Bridget Siljander</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[as leaders]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[training and education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Voices Institute]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.directcarealliance.org/?p=788</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Learn more about the Voices Institute, download an application, or apply online A few of the employers and associations who expressed interest in this year&#8217;s Voices Institute National Leadership Program have asked for more time to nominate workers. It is important to us to hear from every direct care worker who wants to grow as [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.directcarealliance.org/2009/04/voices-institute-extends-deadline/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Help Us Change the World: Apply to the DCA&#8217;s Voices Institute</title>
		<link>http://blog.directcarealliance.org/2009/03/help-us-change-the-worl-apply-to-the-dcas-voices-institute/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.directcarealliance.org/2009/03/help-us-change-the-worl-apply-to-the-dcas-voices-institute/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 31 Mar 2009 17:31:08 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Bridget Siljander</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[as leaders]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Voices Institute]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Wisconsin]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.directcarealliance.org/?p=606</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Download the invitation letter and an application form you can mail or fax (PDF) Apply online &#8220;I would recommmend this training to anyone who wants to become a leader,&#8221; says Tracy Dudzinski, one of the empowered graduates of the 2008 Voices Institute National Leadership Institute. The Voices Institute is now recruiting direct care workers to become the next class [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.directcarealliance.org/2009/03/help-us-change-the-worl-apply-to-the-dcas-voices-institute/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Let Me Show You Even More : My Month as a Rallying, Testifying Direct Care Worker Advocate</title>
		<link>http://blog.directcarealliance.org/2009/03/let-me-show-you-even-more-my-month-as-a-rallying-testifying-direct-care-worker-advocate/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.directcarealliance.org/2009/03/let-me-show-you-even-more-my-month-as-a-rallying-testifying-direct-care-worker-advocate/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 10 Mar 2009 21:30:26 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Bridget Siljander</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Advocacy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[as leaders]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[DCA initiatives]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[DCW associations/coalitions]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[legislation and regulation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Minnesota]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[public policy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[respect]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[wages and benefits]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.directcarealliance.org/?p=482</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[From a fresh, wide-eyed neophyte to a rallying, testifying advocate &#8211; this is the magic of the Direct Care Alliance touch in the direct care worker advocacy movement. When I blogged about the beginning of my journey as an advocate I told you: &#8220;Now, let me show what I can do!&#8221; Well, let me show [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.directcarealliance.org/2009/03/let-me-show-you-even-more-my-month-as-a-rallying-testifying-direct-care-worker-advocate/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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