Direct Care Workers United For Change

Millions of Americans rely on direct care workers (home care aides, personal care attendants, personal assistants, nursing assistants, direct support professionals and others) for help with essentials like getting out of bed, getting dressed, and getting to work or to church – not to mention sensitive medical tasks. But low wages, poor benefits, insufficient training, and a lack of respect contribute to sky-high turnover rates. The Direct Care Alliance is working to remove these barriers.

 

The Direct Care Alliance is the national advocacy voice of direct care workers in long-term care. We empower workers to speak out for better wages, benefits and training, so more people can commit to direct care as a career. We also convene powerful allies nationwide to build consensus for change. Read more about the Direct Care Alliance.
Laurie Powers, PhD, DCA board member, long-term care researcher, and direct care consumer.
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Direct care workers and trainers Brenda Nachtway and Bridget Siljander at the 2009 Voices Institute National Leadership Program. Bridget is the coordinator of the Voices Institute.
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DCA Executive Director Leonila Vega (right).
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Ninetta Johnson (left), president and Terry Bucher, founder, Florida Association of Nurse Assistants.
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Di Findley, founder, Iowa CareGivers Association.
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CNA Vicki Erickson with radio journalist Lorenzo Raffa.
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DCA Direct Care Worker Specialist Brenda Nachtway with U.S. Senator Bob Casey.
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Direct care workers at the DCA's 2008 conference.
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Nancy Streible, CNA and home health aide.
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Graduates and staff of the first Voices Institute.
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The Fight for Change

Learn more about the issues that affect you:

 

Direct Care Voices

Social Justice for Direct Care Workers

The following is a guest post from Nancy Hooyman, Co-Principal Investigator for the Council on Social Work ... Read more »

New Mexico Tackles Direct Care Issues; Taps Into National Efforts

On August 1, 2010, the New Mexico Caregiver Coalition hosted a multi-stakeholder meeting with the Direct Care ... Read more »

Brave Old World

A New York City direct care worker plays a leading role in one of the multimedia stories ... Read more »

Direct from the Headlines

  • As older people grow in numbers, experts seek ways to handle the coming boom
  • House bill would extend labor protections to home care workers
  • DCA supports supports Local Jobs for America Act
  • Home care aides in most states hovering near poverty line
  • DCA board member Judy Clinco helps Arizona meet huge need for direct care workers

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