Archive for ‘Uncategorized’

Direct Care Job Quality Improvement Act Introduced in the House and Senate!

Posted by on June 27th, 2011 at 5:30 pm | No Comments »

Last Friday, the Direct Care Job Quality Improvement Act was introduced in the U.S. House (HR 2341) and Senate (S. 1273) by Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-CA) and Sen. Robert P. Casey, Jr. (D-PA).  The bill was submitted with 22 original co-sponsors in the House and in the Senate, Chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions committee, Tom Harkin also signed on as an original co-sponsor.

Rep. Sanchez released a statement on the importance and impact of the legislation stating “It is impossible to overstate the importance of direct care workers…They provide essential care and daily living services to more than 13 million elderly and disabled Americans.  They care for our parents and grandparents, but we don’t guarantee home care workers the minimum wage.  It is my hope that…” Read full release from Rep. Sanchez


Personal Triumph Highlights Crucial Role Immigrants Play in Direct Care Workforce

Posted by on June 27th, 2011 at 5:24 pm | 1 Comment »

Timothy Doe

What motivates one to immigrate to another country, especially to the United States?  If you are an immigrant, you have no doubt been asked: “So, what brought you here?”

Everyone’s personal situation is different and a variety reasons come into play when someone decides to come and live in this great country.  Some come to U.S. because of a dangerous political climate in their native country, others due to struggling economies, sky-high unemployment rates and lack of educational and professional opportunities in their home land.  Many come to the United States in search of liberty, freedom, more economic opportunities and a better quality of life for their families.

In a sea of thousands who emigrate here every year, and the millions that came before them, this is the story of one such person.  My name is Timothy Kokou Doe and I came to the United States in search of a better life in 2002.  I grew up in Lomé, the capital (and largest city) of Togo, located on the West African coast.  Back in Togo, I worked for nonprofit social service organizations, helping young people prevent early pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases and HIV.  I also created an association called Soleil de Nuit (Nighttime Sun), aimed at educating the public – especially teenagers – about these important topics through poetry, short sketches and theatrical plays.  After moving to the U.S. from my native Togo, I worked in a restaurant for two years.  Over the course of those two years, I practiced and improved my English so that I could one day pursue a career doing the direct care work that I love.

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By Our Sides: The Vital Work of Immigrant Direct Care Workers

Posted by on June 27th, 2011 at 5:20 pm | No Comments »

Evelyn Coke was a Jamaican immigrant and an American hero. For more than twenty years, she cared for sick, elderly and dying people in their homes. She worked tirelessly, without overtime pay or health insurance coverage, while fighting to overturn regulations that exclude home care workers from basic labor protections. Her lawsuit went all the way up to the U.S. Supreme Court, although in the end the Court decided against her. Despite her decades of service to ailing people in need, when Evelyn herself became ill in the last years of her life, she could not afford a health care worker to be by her side (Martin 2009).

Evelyn’s work—and that of thousands of other immigrant direct care workers across the country—provides vital support to families struggling to assist elderly, disabled and seriously ill relatives. As the Baby Boom generation (born between 1946 and 1964) ages, more and more elderly and sick Americans will rely on these immigrant workers.  Read full policy brief.

DCA Hosts Capitol Hill Briefing, Renews Fight to Change the FLSA

Posted by on June 20th, 2011 at 4:46 pm | 4 Comments »

Last Thursday, the Direct Care Alliance hosted a legislative briefing on Capitol Hill, bringing together workers, providers, consumers and other direct care advocates in support of Direct Care Job Quality Improvement Act, a bill that would finally extend minimum wage and overtime protections to home care workers across the country.

The Direct Care Job Quality Improvement Act is set to be re-introduced (formerly the Direct Care Workforce Empowerment Act) by Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-CA) in the House and Sen. Robert P. Casey, Jr. (D-PA) in the Senate later this month.  Rep. Sanchez, an ardent supporter of direct care workers’ rights addressed the briefing attendees and spoke personally about her own father’s battle with Alzheimer’s disease and the indispensable role direct care workers play in his day-to-day life stating “If it weren’t for this workforce taking care of him it would be incredibly difficult for my family to manage it…  Read more about the legislative briefing. Continue reading »

Care, Commitment and Coffee with Jimmie Chandler of Maine!

Posted by on June 20th, 2011 at 4:45 pm | No Comments »

At the 2011 Voices Institute Leadership Training, DCA communications director, Josh Sabato sat down to speak with direct care worker, Jimmie Chandler to discuss the most pressing issues facing direct care workers and how other activists can get involved in direct care advocacy in Maine.  DCA Speaks with Jimmie Chandler at 2011 Voices Institute Training.

DCA to Host Briefing on Capitol Hill this Thursday

Posted by on June 13th, 2011 at 2:50 pm | 3 Comments »

Leonila Vega

As we remember direct care icon Evelyn Coke following the fourth anniversary of her landmark Supreme Court decision, the DCA celebrates her legacy by continuing the fight for direct care workers and those they serve.  Once again the DCA is taking up the mantle of change, leading the fight to secure minimum wage and overtime protections, ensuring that workers get the respect and dignity they deserve.

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Disaster Preparedness Training, More lessons learned from Joplin, Missouri

Posted by on June 7th, 2011 at 1:17 pm | 1 Comment »

John Booker

This letter was contributed by John Booker

Disaster preparedness training for all health care workers is becoming as equally important today as learning what a Temp, Pulse, and Respiration was for direct care workers in 1985.  The training should be separate, mandatory and include a special evacuation procedure for the most challenged residents, especially those with severe dementia.  A program to support and restore dislocated, financially distressed workers and their families, who are often just as devastated in these disasters  as the people they serve, should also be implemented.

In major disasters, quick and educated decisions can make the difference between life and death, those decisions become magnified where the elderly, disabled and those who are mentally challenged are concerned.  The Tornado that made direct hits on St. John’s Regional Medical Center and Green briar Nursing Home in Joplin Missouri was one of 68 that covered seven mid western states that weekend and came on the heels of previous storms in the Southern states.  These disasters should give us more insight into areas where training for health care workers should be increased or reviewed.

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Care, Committment and Coffee!

Posted by on May 31st, 2011 at 3:49 pm | No Comments »

At the 2011 Voices Institute Leadership Training, DCA communications director, Josh Sabato sat down for conversations with workers and direct care advocates from around the country, discussing the most pressing issues facing direct care workers and how anyone can join the movement in their home state. This week we invite you to meet Meriam Jawhar, from the DCA’s New Mexico chapter! DCA Speaks with Meriam Jawhar at 2011 Voices Institute Training

Why I Took This Job

Posted by on May 24th, 2011 at 5:31 pm | No Comments »

David Moreau

Toby and Donnie go to the library

with me on Friday.

Toby asks for a book on NASCAR

and looks for pictures of crashes

while Donnie talks to everyone.

I’m trying to get him to Say hi and move on

and usually he’s okay with that

but sometimes I have to peel him off

strangers who he’s asking to marry. Continue reading »

Voices Institute Grad Reflects on Training and Looks to the Future

Posted by on May 24th, 2011 at 7:28 am | 4 Comments »

This story was contributed by Noel Mendez

WOW. What an experience. One that I will never ever forget that touched every part of me. How can someone learn so much, have so much fun, meet so many wonderful people, and discover oneself at the same time? There is only one way. Attend the VOICES INSTITUTE LEADERSHIP TRAINING next year in Racine, Wisconsin, hosted by the Direct Care Alliance.

The Direct Care Alliance selects direct care worker leaders for this intensive, week-long retreat, where they learn about advocacy, fundraising, organizational development, message development, and more.

When I first heard about the Voices Institute from Brenda Nachtway-membership director with the DCA-I immediately sent in my application because I just knew that I would learn some really good stuff there. Then came the waiting, hoping, and praying that I would be one of the 29 lucky workers from across the country to be selected. When I got the news in early March that I was indeed selected, I could hardly wait to attend! I asked can we start next week? Can we start tomorrow?
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