Ø
U. S. Sen. Robert Casey honored direct care workers as the backbone of long-term care. He urged us to tell legislators about the value and inequities of our profession.
Ø
Dep. Sec. Sandi Vito showcased the PA Dept. of Labor’s plan to strengthen our workforce.
Ø Our Caring Harvest, an original musical,
captured the power and compassion of direct care workers joining with family caregivers to advance long-term care.
Attendees chose from 35 workshops specially designed for direct care workers on clinical skills, special consumer groups, relationships, advocacy, and self care. Attendees reported that they gained tools and insights to help them on their job. Welcome to new members of Pennsylvania Direct Care Workers Association, now 700 strong. Join this website's e-mail list for information on next year’s conference.
Get "Universal Core Curriculum" for new workers.
It is designed to prepare entry-level direct care workers in home and residential long term care settings to provide person-centered assistance that is rewarding for both consumer and worker. This 60-hour curriculum was tested in 5 venues including the Philadelphia Career Link, Bethlehem Vo-Tech, Lehigh Career and Technical Institute, Bucks County Community College, and TriPatriot Center for Independent Living. Students tell us "Every time I leave the class I am inspired." and "Everything was very helpful to me. I really enjoy learning about being a direct care worker." Click here for a description of BJBC-PA's Universal Core Curriculum and an order form.
Direct Care Worker Forum with Senator Casey
U.S. Senator Robert P. Casey learns first hand from direct care workers about challenges of this work and their vision to improve the profession. Read their insights and the issues that emerged (click here) from this forum on June 18th, hosted by Evangelical Hospital and Brenda Nachtway, hospice aide.
Hosted by BJBC-PA on Feb. 23, 2007, this summit brought together 75 of its partners and colleagues to share our collective learning and recommend next steps to advance PA's direct care workforce (click title for summary of proceedings). Dr. Robyn Stone, national director of BJBC, distilled learning from all 13 BJBC projects. Dr. Peter Kemper, Penn State Univ, gave an update on BJBC's national evaluation. Dr. Diane Brannon, Penn State Univ, highlighted the 2004 survey of PA's DCWs and a pilot study of supervisory training and DCWs in nursing homes. Karen Reever, director BJBC-PA, reflected our success in creating supportive workplaces, a core curriculum, and the statewide professional association for DCWs. Twenty others offered testimonies and and stories to define our path to a strong direct care workforce.