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	<title>News and Opinions « Direct Care Alliance &#187; David Ward</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>Protecting the Social Safety Net</title>
		<link>http://blog.directcarealliance.org/2011/11/help-protect-the-social-safety-net/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.directcarealliance.org/2011/11/help-protect-the-social-safety-net/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 08 Nov 2011 15:32:32 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Ward</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Advocacy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Arizona]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Direct care consumers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Featured News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[legislation and regulation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Maryland]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Massachusetts]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Michigan]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Montana]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Nevada]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ohio]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[public policy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[wages and benefits]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Washington state]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.directcarealliance.org/?p=4387</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[UPDATE: Help us fight to preserve these crucial programs by emailing your elected representatives. Our action alert makes it easy to send them a letter. Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security are under attack. Over the past several months, these social safety programs have become the focus of a political battle over what our government needs [...]]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
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		<title>The Time for Respect is Now</title>
		<link>http://blog.directcarealliance.org/2011/08/the-time-for-respect-is-now/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.directcarealliance.org/2011/08/the-time-for-respect-is-now/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 22 Aug 2011 21:22:18 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Ward</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Advocacy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[DCA initiatives]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Featured News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[legislation and regulation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[public policy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[wages and benefits]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.directcarealliance.org/?p=4123</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[It&#8217;s nothing short of shameful that we have not yet given home care workers the respect and recognition they deserve by assuring them minimum wage and overtime protections under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). On a consistent basis, I hear from workers who are tired of not received these modest protections, which are [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.directcarealliance.org/2011/08/the-time-for-respect-is-now/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
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		<title>Wisconsin’s Budget Repair Bill Threatens Health Care for Vulnerable Residents</title>
		<link>http://blog.directcarealliance.org/2011/02/wisconsin%e2%80%99s-budget-repair-bill-threatens-health-care-for-vulnerable-residents/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.directcarealliance.org/2011/02/wisconsin%e2%80%99s-budget-repair-bill-threatens-health-care-for-vulnerable-residents/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 25 Feb 2011 18:34:29 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Ward</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Advocacy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Featured News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Wisconsin]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Badger Care]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Wisconsin Budget Repair Bill]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Wisconsin Medicare]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.directcarealliance.org/?p=3400</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[This is a guest post by Mike Bachhuber, Executive Director of the Independent Living Council of Wisconsin. Update (3/23/2011):  The Senate version of the &#8220;Budget Repair Bill,&#8221; SB-11, failed due to Constitutionally required procedures.  The Senate did not have enough members present since the 14 Democratic Senators exercised a &#8220;walking veto.&#8221; The lower house did [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.directcarealliance.org/2011/02/wisconsin%e2%80%99s-budget-repair-bill-threatens-health-care-for-vulnerable-residents/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>3</slash:comments>
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		<title>State Budget Deficits are Causing a Care Crisis</title>
		<link>http://blog.directcarealliance.org/2011/01/state-budget-deficits-are-becoming-a-care-crisis/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.directcarealliance.org/2011/01/state-budget-deficits-are-becoming-a-care-crisis/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 24 Jan 2011 18:05:44 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Ward</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Advocacy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[California]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Direct care consumers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Featured News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Government]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[New York]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[public policy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Texas]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[human services cut]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Medicaid cut]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[program cut]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[state budget deficit]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.directcarealliance.org/?p=3332</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[In the wake of a slow economic recovery, state budget deficits are growing as unemployment remains high and state tax revenues continue to shrink.  States that have fallen victim to budget shortfalls are being forced consider cuts to human service programs at a time when people need them most. The deficit crisis is not discriminating [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.directcarealliance.org/2011/01/state-budget-deficits-are-becoming-a-care-crisis/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>Advocating for Effective Health Reform Implementation</title>
		<link>http://blog.directcarealliance.org/2011/01/advocating-for-effective-health-reform-implementation/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.directcarealliance.org/2011/01/advocating-for-effective-health-reform-implementation/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 17 Jan 2011 16:50:44 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Ward</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Advocacy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[as leaders]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Direct care workers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Featured News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Government]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[legislation and regulation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[wages and benefits]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[health exchange]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[health reform implementation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[small business health reform]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.directcarealliance.org/?p=3310</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[This is a special introduction from John Hale of the Iowa Caregivers Association to the new Direct Care Alliance policy brief by Shawn Fremstad, &#8220;Implementing the Coverage Provisions of Health Care Reform: What’s at Stake for Direct Care Workers.&#8221; Click here to download the brief. Do you know how difficult it is to get a [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.directcarealliance.org/2011/01/advocating-for-effective-health-reform-implementation/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Tax Season Is Here! Resources for direct care workers</title>
		<link>http://blog.directcarealliance.org/2010/12/tax-season-around-the-corner-resources-for-direct-care-workers/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.directcarealliance.org/2010/12/tax-season-around-the-corner-resources-for-direct-care-workers/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 20 Dec 2010 16:24:32 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Ward</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Featured News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Earn Keep Save PHI]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Earned Income Tax Credit]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[IRS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[tax preparation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[VITA sites]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.directcarealliance.org/?p=3291</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[This is a guest post from Tameshia Bridges, MI Senior Workforce Advocate for PHI. Tax time is here and it is time to start thinking about how you are going to get your taxes done and get a bigger tax refund. Many people turn to commercial tax preparers and pay to have their taxes done [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.directcarealliance.org/2010/12/tax-season-around-the-corner-resources-for-direct-care-workers/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Fair Wages for Home Care Workers on Job Talk America</title>
		<link>http://blog.directcarealliance.org/2010/10/3136/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.directcarealliance.org/2010/10/3136/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 18 Oct 2010 13:57:02 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Ward</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Featured News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Minimum wage and overtime for home care workers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[wages and benefits]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Direct Care Workforce Empowerment Act]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[minimum wage overtime]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[National Employment Law Project]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[NELP]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.directcarealliance.org/2010/10/3136/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Judi Conti of the National Employment Law Project visits online radio talk show Job Talk America to discuss minimum wage and overtime protections for home care workers.]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.directcarealliance.org/2010/10/3136/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Paid Sick Days are Crucial for Direct Care Workers</title>
		<link>http://blog.directcarealliance.org/2010/07/paid-sick-days-are-crucial-for-direct-care-workers/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.directcarealliance.org/2010/07/paid-sick-days-are-crucial-for-direct-care-workers/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 09 Jul 2010 14:28:14 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Ward</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Featured News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Government]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[public policy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[wages and benefits]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Healthy Families Act]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[National Partnership Women Families]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[paid sick days]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.directcarealliance.org/?p=2883</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[This is a guest post from Vicki Shabo, Director of Work &#38; Family Programs for the National Partnership for Women &#38; Families. Every day in the United States, more workers than many of us imagine face an impossible choice: go to work sick, or forgo a paycheck and risk job loss or workplace discipline.  More [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.directcarealliance.org/2010/07/paid-sick-days-are-crucial-for-direct-care-workers/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>The Obama Administration Should Move Beyond the Poverty Line and Adopt an Economic Security Standard</title>
		<link>http://blog.directcarealliance.org/2010/06/the-obama-administration-should-move-beyond-the-poverty-line-and-adopt-an-economic-security-standard/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.directcarealliance.org/2010/06/the-obama-administration-should-move-beyond-the-poverty-line-and-adopt-an-economic-security-standard/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 28 Jun 2010 17:03:24 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Ward</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Direct care workers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Featured News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Government]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[public policy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[wages and benefits]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Center for Economic Policy Research]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[poverty guidelines]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[poverty line]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[supplemental poverty measure]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.directcarealliance.org/?p=2870</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[This post was written by Shawn Fremstad, Director of the Inclusive and Sustainable Economy Initiative at the Center for Economic and Policy Research. Earlier this year, the Obama administration unveiled plans to develop a &#8220;supplemental&#8221; poverty measure (SPM) based on recommendations made by the National Academy of Sciences in 1995.  The SPM makes important technical [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.directcarealliance.org/2010/06/the-obama-administration-should-move-beyond-the-poverty-line-and-adopt-an-economic-security-standard/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>What Health Care Reform Means for Direct Care Workers and Their Families</title>
		<link>http://blog.directcarealliance.org/2010/04/what-health-care-reform-means-for-direct-care-workers-and-their-families/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.directcarealliance.org/2010/04/what-health-care-reform-means-for-direct-care-workers-and-their-families/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 06 Apr 2010 14:05:51 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Ward</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Direct care workers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Government]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[public policy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[wages and benefits]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[direct care worker benefits]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[employer health penalty]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[health coverage]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[impact health care reform]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.directcarealliance.org/?p=2690</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Families and businesses across the country continue trying to understand the many ways health care reform will impact them.  We&#8217;re right there with you &#8211; we want to know how employers and direct care workers will be affected by this sweeping reform.  We know that it holds promise and that thousands of direct care workers [...]]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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