Direct Care Workers Association Workgroup Meeting Summary June 12, 2002 Attendance: Jallie Daughtry, Lloyd Pattison, Carol Teal, Melvin Whitley, Pat Capehart, Annie Oglesby, Mary Wright, Helen Forte, Duane Currie, Milford Evans, Dave Patterson, Jodi Hernandez, Tanisha James, Melissa Swartz, Christina Garry, Susan Harmuth, Donna Holt, Mike Massoglia, Jan Moxley THEME OF THE MEETING: The mission of the Direct Care Workers Association of North Carolina is to promote the interests of direct care workers in the state. TALKING POINTS: To build support for this effort, members of the workgroup are encouraged to tell their co-workers and others in their home communities about the progress being made. In spreading the word, these are the major points: 1. The workgroup will establish a direct care workers association in North Carolina. 2. The development of the Association is one of the major objectives of Real Choice, a federally funded grant. 3. The Association�s mission will be to promote the interests of direct care workers. 4. The Association will be a nonprofit with a focus that includes education. It will not be a trade organization or union. SUMMARY OF DISCUSSION: After quickly agreeing on a mission and name for the organization � Direct Care Workers Association of North Carolina � discussion turned to what the workgroup should do next. Some Key Factors for the Association Quite simply, the workgroup decided the Association should begin addressing two key factors: Sustaining itself and making an impact for direct care workers in North Carolina. The discussion focused around the following: To sustain the organization 1. The Association should have a �development committee� to keep this as a priority 2. The Association must be sure its message reaches direct care workers statewide 3. The Association should have a common mission and goals to serve its members 4. The Association must have education as a focus for nonprofit status from the IRS For the organization to have the greatest impact 1. Develop a core group of objectives for the betterment of direct care workers that could include a. Creating a positive image for direct care workers b. Providing educational opportunities for direct care workers c. Educating the public and clients about the scope of activities of direct care workers d. Promoting the professionalism of direct care workers e. Being a voice for direct care workers and an advocate for their interests f. Establishing a set of values and a code of conduct for direct care workers 2. Take into account the variety of direct care workers and their different needs 3. Work on more than just improving the �image� of direct care workers Areas for the Association to Focus Attention The workgroup agreed on an initial mission statement and name for the new organization. From there, the discussion turned to broad areas in which the association could establish objectives for fulfilling this mission. Those areas, and some of the topics addressed, include: Career Development The association must be careful in how it defines �career development.� Not every direct care worker wants to acquire a professional license or take on additional responsibilities, which are activities that often come to mind in discussions of career development. Other important activities could fall under the heading of �career development� that have little or nothing to do with licensure or job advancement. The important point is that the association must be flexible enough to offer services that will attract both kinds of workers: those who want additional training for career advancement, and those who want additional training to help them in their current positions. Education for Direct Care Workers Before the discussion of educational opportunities went very far, the workgroup decided that it needed to first address the issue of who are direct care workers? This is important for a variety of reasons, including a sense that helping direct care workers function as part of the healthcare team is one possible educational service the Association could provide. The question of who are direct care workers will be on the workgroup agenda for July 10. Other Issues for Future Meetings Based on earlier discussion, there was agreement that the following would be important roles for the Direct Care Workers Association of North Carolina: 1. Formulating, adopting and promoting professional standards for direct care workers 2. Providing a support network for direct care workers 3. Serving as a resource for direct care workers 4. Being an advocate for direct care workers WHAT�S NEXT To keep things moving over the next six months, the workgroup developed a tentative schedule of topics for its future meetings. The group did so with the understanding that this is a fluid schedule that can accommodate new issues as they arise. July 10 � 1. Continue identifying and refining the goals and objectives of the Association, 2. Define �direct care worker�: What is a direct care worker? Is the answer based on job title or job function? 3. Membership: Who should make up the membership of the Association? Should there be different �levels� of membership for agencies or institutions that employ direct care workers? Also, beginning this month each meeting will include a brief progress report on the public education/recruitment workgroup and the consumer-directed care workgroup. August 21 � Presentation by Di Findley, founder of the Iowa Caregivers Association, to hear her insights and benefit from her experience in establishing an organization in that state September 4 � Follow up issues on raised at the August meeting; begin planning activities related to goals and mission. October 2 � Plan for recruiting members and developing a constituency. November 6 � Begin discussing organizational structure, including bylaws and requirements for incorporation and designation of nonprofit status December 11 � Plan for publicizing the Association and set the agenda for the next six months.
