PCA Testifies Before Minnesota Health and Human Services Committee

Bridget Siljander, the president of the Direct Support Professional Association of Minnesota and one of the DCA’s Direct Care Worker Specialists, recently testified before the Minnesota Health and Human Services Committee. Although she was speaking about policies in a different state, many of her experiences as a Personal Care Assistant may seem familiar to our local Direct Care Workers.

State AND Local Conference

There are several conference opportunities coming up!

First, we will be holding a conference on March 13th in Allentown-- LESS THAN TWO WEEKS AWAY on strategies for surviving the economic crunch. The cost of the conference is only $5 and that includes breakfast AND lunch AND a goodie bag with a $10 book entitled, "Your Money or Your Life". Click here to read more details and sign up today.

Secondly, the PA State Direct Care Workers Association is holding their annual conference in May in Harrisburg:

DIRECT CARE WORKERS
Spring Into Action For A Better Tomorrow

Pa. Direct Care Workers Association
5th Annual Conference
Monday, May 18th, 2009 in Harrisburg Pa

Email brendanachtway@gmail.com or call (570)412-1447 with your questions about the state conference.

Email corirolon@unitedwayglv.org or call (610) 807-5742 with your questions about the local conference.

Reduced Cost For Lifeline Service for NAZARETH Residents!

The Wagner Family Foundation recently awarded the American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley grant funding to be utilized with their Lifeline Personal Response program. As a result, American Red Cross will be able to subsidize the cost of the Lifeline service for a number of residents who reside in the Nazareth area.

Lifeline, the #1 medical alert service, has helped over 6 million seniors and their families. It is an easy to use service designed to reduce the risk of living alone. In the event of a fall or emergency, help is available at the push of a button. The appropriate help is sent, resulting in reduced hospitalization, lower medical costs, shorter recovery times, and greater independence for the user.

The cost of the Lifeline service is $40.00 per month. Individuals would be responsible for paying $30.75 per month, plus a one-time shipping and handling fee of $12.95. The Wagner Family Foundation grant funding would cover their balance of $10.00. This reduced fee is available for a maximum of 12 months.

If you know someone living in Nazareth, please pass on this information. To sign up for the program or for more information, please contact Laura Sheehan at the American Red Cross -- 610-865-4400.

Direct Care Alliance

Have you checked out the Direct Care Alliance webpage? Do you know about the Direct Care Alliance, a national Direct Care Worker Association?

If you haven't already checked out the new Direct Care Alliance website, you might want to take a look this week. They have revamped it to offer more information and inspiration, including separate landing pages to help direct care workers, consumers, employers, and members of worker associations and coalitions (hey -- that is us!) find what they're looking for.

Other features include:

• News and Opinions. Read blog posts by our direct care worker specialists, Executive Director Leonila Vega, and others -- and join the online conversation by leaving a comment yourself.
• Issues. This section outlines challenges facing direct care workers and links to ways you can learn more about the issue, advocate for improvements, or find out about other groups working for change;
• Resources. Publications, organizations, and online services that match direct care workers with clients; and
• Videos. Videos shot at the DCA's 2007 conference, at last year's open house, and at other DCA events are salted throughout the site, so you can hear what direct care workers, employers, consumers, funders and others are saying about the DCA and its mission.
• Who We Are. Meet our staff, board, and direct care worker specialists or read about our beliefs and principles. This section also includes a definition of direct care work from our direct care worker specialists.

Over the next few months, they will be adding interactive features to help build their movement and give advocates more ways to communicate with each other online, making the website a powerful tool for grassroots advocacy and community building!

Local FREE Conference on Handling Paychecks for Direct Care Workers!

The Lehigh Valley Chapter of the Direct Care Workers Association, Lehigh Valley Alliance on Aging, the Workforce Investment Board and United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley understand how the economic crunch is affecting your wallet. When you are stressed with money problems, your work can be affected. We proudly offer you this
opportunity to learn how to stretch your paycheck in these trying times.

When? Friday, March 13th, 8:00 am to noon

Where?
Moyer Hall
Phoebe Home
1925 Turner Street
Allentown, PA 18104

How much? Free for members that register before March 6th. $5 for non-members and late registrations.

What?
The training will be provided by Denise Continenza from Penn State Cooperative Extension. Denise Continenza is the Family Living Educator with the Penn State Cooperative Extension in Lehigh County. She conducts community education programs on topics related to families across the life cycle such as parenting, family financial management, youth resiliency, and life skills. She is also a panelist with Help for Families, the weekly parenting column appearing in the Morning Call. Denise has been an extension educator since August, 2001. Denise holds a B.A. in sociology from East Stroudsburg University and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Youth and Family Education through Penn State. Denise is an avid runner, and she lives in Whitehall, PA with her husband and three children.

Denise will provide practical ways to make your money go farther this year. She will discuss:
· Making Decisions about Money
· Developing a Budget
· Credit and Debt
· Recordkeeping
· Consumer Protection/Credit Reports

How do I sign up?
Simply fill out the following information and send or email to:

Cori Rolón
United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley
2200 Avenue A
Third Floor
Bethlehem, PA 18017-2189
corir@unitedwayglv.org
(610) 807-5742

Registration Form:
Name: __________________________________________
Company:_______________________________________
Street Address:__________________________________
City______________________________
State: _________ Zip: _____________
Phone #:_________________________
Email: ____________________________
Social Security #: (required by the grant)
__________________________________

Please make all checks payable to:
United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley