CARING FOR CAREGIVERS has never been more important
Iowa CareGivers Association (ICA) is Iowa's first independent statewide professional association for Certified Nurse Assistants, Home Care Aides, Patient Care Technicians, and other direct care/support workers who deliver 80-90% of the care in Iowa's nursing facilities, home care agencies and in many other health care settings. ICA partners with workers, providers, consumers, consumer advocates, policy makers, labor, educators and others committed to enhancing the quality and availability of care in Iowa.
ICA provides education, information, support and advocacy for those who perform direct resident/patient/client care. ICA also conducts market research relative to staff recruitment and retention.
NEW!
ICA'S 2009 Policy Priorities
Click here to download the Brochure!
ANNOUNCING The ROC!
ICA Direct Care Worker
"Resource and Outreach Center"
With the support of US Senator Tom Harkin, the Iowa CareGivers Association (ICA) was awarded a federal grant to expand its programs and services, proven to be effective in recruiting and retaining direct care workers. This expansion begins with the announcement of the ICA Direct Care Worker Resource and Outreach Center (The ROC!). With this grant we will:
- Relocate to a larger and more accessible office space
- Redesign this website
- Reach more direct care workers with ICA leadership, mentoring, and other education and support programs
“As the Chairman of Appropriations committee that funds labor, health and education initiatives and Senator from Iowa, I am proud to support ICA’s unique efforts to provide so many worthwhile programs and services for direct care workers in our state – especially during a time when we are dealing with a shortage of health care professionals. The public safety and welfare of older Iowans, persons with disabilities, and all communities as a whole depend on our ability to recruit and retain direct care workers. I commend the dedication of our direct care workers and congratulate ICA ROC’s pioneering spirit and service to our communities.”
Direct Care Worker Education Task Force Reports Now Available!
We know that as direct care workers you leave the field for lots of reasons. Many of you leave because you don’t receive enough education and training to do what is expected of you; some of you may lack opportunities for advancement within the fields of direct care; and the state and federal standards related to your education, training, or certification is not very clear or consistent. Some of you have said that you have lost your certification when you left one care setting to work in another.
These reports contain recommendations by a Governor appointed Direct Care Worker Task Force that met from 2005-2008 on how to better the system for you, those you serve, and your employers. They believe you should receive the professional status you deserve.
Raise Your Voice for Change!
In 2007 the Iowa Caregivers Association joined the Divided We Fail coalition as an Iowa team member in response to the critical need to raise the voices of millions of Americans who want to see substantial changes in health care and lifetime financial security issues. We invite all Iowans, who believe that the time for partisan division is over, to join this discussion on health care and lifetime financial security. With the support of over 14,000 Iowans who have signed the Divided We Fail pledge, we will work toward a common goal: ending partisan gridlock and finding sensible, nonpartisan solutions that address the issues in a real and lasting way. With your voices, we’ll bring that message to Washington in a way that cannot be ignored.
During 2008, Divided We Fail Iowa continues to raise the issues of health care and financial security with candidates, elected officials and Iowans of all ages – to send the message that gridlock is unacceptable on these vital domestic issues.
Divided We Fail supporters represent a broad and diverse cross-section of Iowa and America. Republicans, Democrats, Consumer Groups, Communities, Labor and Business – together – they bring millions of voices to our efforts. Together, we are demanding action.
Join the Iowa Divided We Fail Online Community!
NEW!
Institute of Medicine (IOM) places a priority on the health and long term care workforce in their recently released report, "Retooling for An Aging America: Building the Health Care Workforce."
The report includes a section on direct care workers. Read the full report by clicking on the link above and read ICA's response to the report.
Health Care for Direct Care Workers
Health care coverage is not an academic issue or an abstract public policy debate. It’s a subject that deeply affects real people in Iowa; your friends, business associates, co-workers, neighbors, and relatives.
Approximately 275,000 Iowans have no health insurance coverage. Thousands more have inadequate coverage—coverage that they pay too much for or get too little from.
To view the video, "Real People, Real Stories: The Uninsured and Underinsured in Iowa" please click here.
To read about the Real Stories of Health Care Coverage of 5 direct care workers please click here.
To help stimulate the health care coverage debate in Iowa, the Iowa CareGivers Association and the Better Jobs Better Care Coalition have prepared a set of Health Care Reform Principles for people to consider, debate, and guide their decisions as the debate goes forward. The view the Health Care Reform Principles, please click here. Please do not hesitate to contact the Iowa CareGivers Association if you would like to provide any feedback on the Health Care Reform Principles.
Additional Resources:
» 2007 Iowa Better Jobs Better Care Summary of Accomplishments
» Direct Care Worker Task Force Report - December 2006
» Better Jobs Better Care Health Care for Direct Care Workers Case Statement/Action Plan
» Iowa Direct Care Worker Registry
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