DIRECT CARE WORKERS ASSOCIATION MEETING SUMMARY July 10, 2002 ATTENDANCE: Lloyd Pattison, Amy Bookman, Phyllis Stewart, Carol Teal, Melvin Whitley, Stephanie Wright, Junita Spivey, Mary Wright, Joe Libera, Duane Currie, Milford Evans, Dave Patterson, Lynda McDaniel, Tanisha James, Christina Garry, Alice Watkins, Susan Harmuth, Donna Holt, Mike Massoglia, Jan Moxley THEME OF THE MEETING Whether defined by job function or job title, the characteristics direct care workers have in common are that they are unlicensed, front-line caregivers who provide necessary services to individuals of all ages. SUMMARY OF DISCUSSION After hearing progress reports about the other two workgroups and briefly considering possible objectives for the association, the DCWA workgroup began defining the term �direct care workers� to determine for whom the Direct Care Workers Association is being created. There were two approaches taken: describing the job functions that direct care workers provide; and listing some of the main job titles that encompass direct care workers. After this, the workgroup added the phrase �to improve the quality of care� to its mission statement and discussed different membership categories. All of this set the stage for the workgroup to list questions and topics for Di Findley of the Iowa Caregivers Association, who will be on the agenda for the August meeting. DETAILS OF DISCUSSION REVISED MISSION STATEMENT The Direct Care Workers Association of North Carolina is a statewide professional organization for front-line caregivers who provide necessary direct care services and support to individuals of all ages who need assistance. The mission of the Direct Care Workers Association of North Carolina is to promote the interests of direct care workers to improve the quality of care they can provide. These workers include but are not limited to activity aides, CNAs, habilitation aides, hospice workers, in-home aides, life coaches, medication technicians, mental health workers, personal care assistants and others who work in long-term care, home health, mental health and other settings. JOB DEFINITIONS To get a handle on the kind of workers who could join an association, the workgroup tried to define what it means to be a direct care worker. The lively discussion focused around the functions performed by direct care workers and the titles for people who hold those jobs. What follows is a recap of those two areas and a third way of looking at direct care workers for the purposes of possible membership in a statewide association. The list is not meant to include every job function or job title. Instead, it tries to cover a majority. Even though the workgroup could make future revisions, the current list will be helpful to the public education workgroup�s efforts to raise awareness about direct care workers. By key features �direct care workers� includes: � Hands-on care � Unlicensed positions � Front-line caregivers � Impairment-based services By function �direct care workers� includes: � Changing bandages � Handling affairs � independent living skills (for children or adults) � Treatment � Services � Performing needed chores By title �direct care workers� includes: � CNAs, personal care assistants, in-home aides, mental health workers, medication technicians, activity aides. � Also, job coaches, life coaches, community social services technicians, hospice workers, respite care workers, attendants, habilitation aides, healthcare technicians. MEMBERSHIP This section covers preliminary discussion that conveys the workgroup�s desire to have a distinct membership category for direct care workers to clearly establish that they drive the association. Discussion also focused on allowing other interested parties to support the association through financial contributions and by participation in activities designed to achieve its mission. These are proposed membership categories and subject to revision during later discussion. Categories � Full membership � voting interest o Direct care workers o Paid employees o Active or retired � Student membership � prospective interest o High school students o �In-training� workers � Supporting membership � philanthropic interest o Health care foundations o Consumers o Families o Other donors for whatever reason � Affiliate membership � vested interest o Providers o Agencies o Organizations POSIBLE OBJECTIVES FOR THE ASSOCIATION A brief discussion of objectives was carried over from the June meeting. Broad headings were listed to ensure that the workgroup still agreed on the following objectives: career development, education, support network, resource, advocacy and professionalism (standards). The discussion outlined below led to additional wording of the initial mission statement and helped to frame the discussion of membership. Advocacy Voice opinion on � Improving workplace issues o Pay o Professional standards o Climates, etc. � Actuality of the job � Validity of the job � Worth of the job � Quality of care QUESTIONS/TOPICS FOR DI FINDLEY The last part of the discussion covered questions and topics the workgroup would like to hear at its meeting in August, when Di Findley of the Iowa Caregivers Association will make a presentation. The intent is to get as much out of her visit as possible. The questions and topics fell into two broad categories: � Advice and information based on Iowa�s experiences � Iowa materials for review before the August meeting Advice and information from Di Findley 1. Overview of the Iowa Caregivers Association a. Accomplishments, including the group�s visibility on policy, research, etc., and its impact on helping direct care and direct care workers in Iowa b. Where do Iowa�s members come from � healthcare or mental health settings? c. How many members are there? What does membership cost? d. How does the association justify its fees in terms of the services provided to members and other benefits of membership? e. What are the perks and benefits of the different levels of membership giving? Do some members have voting rights and others not? f. How does the Iowa association get the funding to operate? How much is through membership fees, and how much from grants and other sources? 2. Growth of the Iowa Caregivers Association a. How tough were the first two years? b. What were the downfalls and pitfalls? c. How big was the initial staff? Was it paid or were there volunteers? How big is it now? d. What kinds of recruitment meetings are there? e. Was membership growth constant, or were there ups and downs? f. How did Iowa deal with conflict within the association? g. How did Iowa establish initial leadership and governance? 3. Strategies from the Iowa Caregivers Association a. How does Iowa keep perspective � how is it broad enough yet specific enough in meeting the needs of diverse direct care workers in that state? b. How does the Iowa association market itself to potential members and the public, including policy makers? c. How does make non-CNAs feel welcomed in the association? d. What is the association�s notion of customer service to members? e. How does Iowa solicit input from members? f. What membership feedback mechanism does the Iowa association have? g. What type of education sessions does Iowa offer, and are they directed at CNAs or all members? Who pays for them? 4. Impact of the Iowa Caregivers Association a. How did the Iowa association become such a voice in that state? b. How are CNAs, in-home aides, etc., better off now for the association�s having been organized? c. What impact has the association had on the industry in Iowa? d. What has been Iowa�s experience with developing career ladder? 5. Advice from the Iowa Caregivers Association a. What would you do differently the second time around? b. What have we in North Carolina overlooked? c. How can we learn from your experiences? Iowa materials for review 1. Bylaws 2. Agenda for annual meeting 3. Newsletters, fliers, etc. 4. Annual financial statements and membership numbers 5. Other written documents or �blueprint� that guided the association�s development
