Di Findley
The DCA recently engaged Iowa CareGivers Association Executive Director Di Findley to develop tools and materials to assist with the development of direct care worker associations. One feature we are previewing today are questions posed to Di from around the country.
Here’s the first one:
Di,
Do you have any tips we can use on how to set up a state direct care worker conference? For instance, is there a uniform fashion? Do you pay speakers to present and workers/agencies to participate? Do you do contracts? How is the venue chosen? Any suggestions you might offer will be most appreciated.
Thank you
Di’s Response:
While your question is about how to plan a ‘statewide’ conference…there is nothing magical about going statewide. In fact, you might want to consider doing something much smaller…a county or regional conference. Starting small provides you a testing ground. Our first conference was not statewide.
Having said that…..We begin planning every year in January for a September conference.
We begin planning our conference every year in January for September. Our conference has evolved over the years. Our first year we had less than 40 people attend and each year it has grown. Last year we had 327 attend and 150 attended the two day conference on scholarship.
