Understand Issues that Impact You

caregiver helping an older woman

Direct care workers face many challenges in their profession of caring for others. 

But, do you know the intricacies of the system you work within?  It is a broken system that causes many of the issues you encounter, low wages, unaffordable benefits, staffing shortages, and others. 

Day of Dialogue on Direct Care Workforce Issues 

Fifty thought leaders assembled for a Day of Dialogue on Direct Care Workforce issues.

Attendees of the event, co-hosted by Iowa CareGivers and Des Moines Area Community College, included direct care workers, people with disabilities, older Iowans, family caregivers, employers and educators of direct care workers, advocates, and representatives of state agencies. Also in attendance was Representative Michael Bergan (R-District 63) and caucus staff Witt Harberts. The morning showcased promising state-led initiatives, all of which have some recommendations or focus on direct care worker wages or portability of direct care worker credentials. And those were the two focus areas of the day. Ryan Murphy, Iowa Workforce Development (IWD), presented the findings of the 2025 Direct Care Workers of Iowa Wage and Benefit survey, a partnership between Iowa CareGivers and IWD. Greg Woods, Division of Public Health, presented on Iowa's BOLD Initiative Eugenia Kendall, Division on Aging and Disability Services, presented on their Multi-sector Plan on Aging and Disability - IA SAIL program, and Kathy Leggett, IWD, presented on a technical assistance grant recently awarded to Iowa by the National Direct Care Workforce Strategies Center. 

Each of these projects contains recommendations specific to the need to focus on direct care worker wages or the portability of direct care worker credentials. The afternoon began with a presentation by Stephen McCall, PHI National sharing the findings of a national environmental scan on direct care workers. Stephen facilitated the afternoon’s small group sessions which yielded promising insights, ideas, and solutions to bring stability to the direct care workforce.

>>>> Click here to visit the full photo gallery. <<<<

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IMMEDIATE NEXT STEPS: IOWA CAREGIVERS WILL:

  • Reconvene those who attended the Day of Dialogue by small groups of interest: 1) direct care worker wages and 2) portability of direct care worker credentials. 

  • Invite others to join the network of individuals committed to advocating for policies and practices that will enhance direct care worker wages and create a system that enables portability of direct care worker credentials.

PLEASE JOIN US FOR DAY ON THE HILL | FEBRUARY 16, 2026   
NOON to 3:00 P.M. in the ROTUNDA AT THE STATE | 1007 EAST GRANT AVENUE | DES MOINES, IA

If you believe these issues are worthy of your time and would like to become part of a network to advocate for lasting change that will serve the best interests of the caregivers and those on the receiving end of care, please contact Di Findley at di.findley@iowacaregivers.org  or 515-249-0138.

Iowa Caregivers Class

You are a part of a bigger profession and in order to affect change, you need to understand the key issues. 

You need to understand to be able to talk informatively about what is needed to ensure a well-educated, well-compensated, skilled direct care workforce.

Iowa CareGivers can and does advocate for changes that favor direct care workers and those you serve but it’s YOUR voices that need to be heard!  We can provide the opportunities, but you must prepare, step up and speak up!

You can learn more by checking out the Issues portion of our website.