Archive for ‘New Mexico’

DCA Members, Allies Comment on Proposed Rule

Posted by on February 7th, 2012 at 1:55 am | No Comments »

Now that we’re about two-thirds of the way through the public comment period on the proposed rule to extend Fair Labor Standards Act protections to home care workers, the comments are beginning to give a sense of the range and sheer number of home care stakeholders who support the rule–and the depth of their passion about this issue.

Here’s a sampling of the inspirational comments submitted so far by DCA members and allies. If you’ve already submitted yours, thank you for helping support this important cause. If you haven’t yet found the time, please download our comment submission guidelines and send yours in soon.

Judy Clinco

Judy Clinco, home care agency owner

As the owner of a 30-year-old home care company that employees Direct Care Workers, I am fully supportive of this workforce being protected by the Fair Wage Labor Law. Unless this workforce is guaranteed minimum hourly wage and over time it will be impossible to recruit compassionate individuals who will work long term in this sector. Our aging society not only needs trained, compassionate individuals, but the continuity of having there services and care be provided by the same caregiver.

Continue reading »

Caregiver Advocate Looks to Hone Skills at 2011 VI Leadership Training

Posted by on April 18th, 2011 at 5:55 pm | 2 Comments »

The following story was contributed by Meriam Jawhar

My name is Meriam Jawhar, and for the last ten years I have been a proud advocate for elders and people with disabilities, working to ensure that the most vulnerable in our society are given the voice they deserve.

As an elected member of the New Mexico Direct Caregivers Coalition, for several months I have been leading New Mexico’s advocacy coalition on behalf of caregivers across the state  in an attempt to better educate and inform local legislators on the need for greater job security for direct care workers.  In so doing, our coalition has stressed the importance of professionalizing the direct care workforce through competitive salaries, training and benefits for workers. 

Continue reading »

From the Family Caregiver Conference: Telling Our Stories

Posted by on November 22nd, 2010 at 12:44 pm | No Comments »

It is such an exciting month to be a direct care worker.  So many people have stepped forward this month to increase awareness around important issues such as Alzheimer’s care and family caregiving!  The day after the New Mexico Direct Care Givers Coalition Conference, we attended the 6th Annual Family Caregiver Conference in Albuquerque. Hundreds of family caregivers and their loved ones gathered with direct care workers and other allies to discuss the joys and challenges of caring for others. A theme throughout the conference was that caregivers often don’t take a pause to care for themselves.  One really important thing I took away from the conference is the vital role of direct care workers in helping family caregivers do that.  Direct care workers can spend a couple hours per week – or even just per month – providing assistance, giving family caregivers a much-needed reprieve.

FamilyPanel

(LtoR): Mark Narvaez, Leonila Vega, Ellen Teresa Costilla & Gene Varela

That afternoon, I attended a panel discussion called “Telling Our Story: Caregiver Advocacy & Action.”  Panelists Leonila Vega (Direct Care Alliance), Mark Narvaez (New Mexico Alzheimer’s Association), Gene Varela (AARP) and Ellen Teresa Costilla (NM Human Services Department) discussed the importance of organizing at the grassroots to increase public awareness and education for home and community-based care.  They also discussed current public policy affecting caregivers and grassroots legislative advocacy opportunities, such as the Direct Care Workforce Empowerment Act. Continue reading »

Direct Care Workers, Employers & Allies Caring Across New Mexico

Posted by on November 22nd, 2010 at 11:43 am | No Comments »

It has been another exciting year for the New Mexico Direct Caregivers Coalition! On November 5, we hosted the second annual statewide summit, Caring Across New Mexico.  We were thrilled to have so many employers and vendors in attendance along with direct care workers – it was an example of how important it is for everyone to work together.  To kick off the morning, DCA’s Leonila Vega delivered a keynote address on national healthcare policy and what is being done to improve working conditions for direct care workers and the quality of care for elders and people living with disabilities. Watch a video of her presentation, below:

Next, we had an amazing panel of service providers discuss the importance of training, respect and recognition, and better working conditions for direct care workers.  These employers demonstrated an extreme commitment to their staffs and the people they serve. Continue reading »

New Mexico Direct Caregivers Coalition Hosts 2nd Annual Statewide Summit

Posted by on November 1st, 2010 at 10:29 am | 1 Comment »

Mark Cerna

On November 5, the New Mexico Direct Caregivers Coalition will host its 2nd Annual Statewide Summit: Caring Across New Mexico.

We’re gearing up for the event, which brings together all stakeholders in the field of direct care, including:  direct care workers; the elderly and individuals living with disabilities that employ caregivers; state agency employees; caregiver agency administration; and family and friends of caregivers.

The Summit is a venue for communication among caregivers on career opportunities, job advancement, job benefits, advocacy and legislation affecting those who provide care. The Summit is an opportunity for family and professional caregivers to come together to share what works in caring for the elderly and individuals living with disabilities.

Read more about the New Mexico Direct Caregivers 2010 Summit and register.

New Mexico Tackles Direct Care Issues; Taps Into National Efforts

Posted by on August 27th, 2010 at 11:31 am | 1 Comment »

Mark Cerna

On August 1, 2010, the New Mexico Caregiver Coalition hosted a multi-stakeholder meeting with the Direct Care Alliance.  Leonila Vega, DCA’s Executive Director, met with employers, advocates, staff and New Mexico Caregiver Coalition members.  We learned a lot about national trends, workforce development and policy objectives of DCA.

For us, it was an opportunity to share updates on our local work with DCA, the national advocacy voice for workers in long-term care. We discussed the needs of New Mexicans to reform our long-term care system and address the needs of workers in this state.  Trends show that New Mexico has and continues to attract many  retirees and that the demand for direct care continues to increase.  The New Mexico Caregiver Coalition is the leading voice to develop and support caregivers so our elders have a well-trained, ample, qualified caregiver workforce to meet their needs. Continue reading »

New Mexico Direct Caregivers Coalition Seeks Leader

Posted by on February 15th, 2010 at 1:13 am | No Comments »

The New Mexico Direct Caregivers Coalition is seeking its first executive director. The organization, which was founded last year, is headed by a 10-member board of directors all of whom are direct care workers.

To apply, send a cover letter and resume to nmexchange@aol.com by March 3.

Job description (PDF)

Committed Caregivers Flock to New Mexico Conference

Posted by on November 25th, 2009 at 4:49 am | 1 Comment »
(L to R) Connie, Alex and me on our panel

(L to R) Connie, Alex and me on our panel

The New Mexico Direct Caregivers Coalition’s 2009 summit was our first conference – we just started our coalition this year – so we were a little nervous going into it. But by the end of the day on November 6, we all felt great.

About 125 people from all across the state got a lot out of the summit. We packed the day with educational sessions, running three at a time in four time slots, and we had some great speakers.

Our educational sessions ranged from self-advocacy to job-related skills to what caregivers need to know about technology. Topics included Affordable Health Insurance for Direct Caregivers, Dementia vs. Hearing Loss – How to Recognize when Hearing Loss is Causing the Misunderstanding, Caring for Yourself First, Family Caregivers as Advocates, and Advocating your Cause: Caregiver Advocacy 101.

I was on one of the panels, along with my fellow 2009 Voices Institute National Leadership Program graduates Connie Kreider and Alex Brandt. I talked about why we direct care workers need respect and recognition. Connie told people about the DCA, and Alex talked about our generally low wages and why they need to improve. The people who came to hear us asked a lot of good questions. Continue reading »

Voices Institute NLP Graduates New Crop of Direct Care Worker Leaders

Posted by on October 15th, 2009 at 9:05 am | 3 Comments »
DCA board chair Vera Salter teaching members of the 2009 class

DCA board chair Vera Salter teaching members of the 2009 class

“Let the root thrive” was the birthing motto of the Voices Institute inaugural class, inspired by the lakeside location of the DeKoven Center in Wisconsin, where the first graduates launched DCA’s signature National Leadership Program (NLP) to turbo-charge direct care worker leadership and activism.

When I wrote, after the first class graduated, that the inaugural program was one “historic and successful step forward for the movement to empower direct care workers and to fix our broken long-term care system,” I was dreaming of the possibilities. From September 27 through October 3 of this year, direct care workers once again proved their capacity to make the seemingly impossible happen, and to claim the respect they deserve as professionals. The roots are thriving at the state and national level, and the new class of graduates have a place from where to build national policy success. Continue reading »

Voices Institute Welcomes Another Remarkable Class

Posted by on September 10th, 2009 at 5:06 pm | 8 Comments »
Angel Saylor (R) with home care aide Kelvin Jefferson at a DCA focus group

Angel Saylor (R) with home care aide Kelvin Jefferson at a DCA focus group

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’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 the DeKoven Center, where the roots that were planted at the first Voices Institute National Leadership Program will again thrive.

This year, we are welcoming men and women who care for people of all ages in a variety of settings, including nursing homes, hospice, group homes, day programs, assisted living, and home- and community-based programs. Consistent with the DCA’s objectives to build a broadly inclusive movement of empowered direct care workers, the class of 2009 represents a wide spectrum of direct care workers. Continue reading »

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