Welcome

The Direct Care Alliance is the national advocacy voice of direct care workers in long-term care. We empower workers to speak out for better wages, benefits, respect, and working conditions, so more people can commit to direct care as a career. We also convene powerful allies nationwide to build consensus for change.
Laurie Powers, PhD, DCA board member, long-term care researcher, and direct care consumer.
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Direct care workers and trainers Brenda Nachtway and Bridget Siljander at the 2009 Voices Institute National Leadership Program. Bridget is the coordinator of the Voices Institute.
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DCA Executive Director Leonila Vega (right).
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Ninetta Johnson (left), president and Terry Bucher, founder, Florida Association of Nurse Assistants.
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Di Findley, founder, Iowa CareGivers Association.
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CNA Vicki Erickson with radio journalist Lorenzo Raffa.
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DCA Direct Care Worker Specialist Brenda Nachtway with U.S. Senator Bob Casey.
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Direct care workers at the DCA's 2008 conference.
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Nancy Streible, CNA and home health aide.
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Graduates and staff of the first Voices Institute.
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New from the DCA

2009 Voices Institute Graduates New Crop of Direct Care Worker Leaders

Vera Teaching Students

I'll admit at some point during the 2009 Voices Institute, I was feeling tired and discouraged. Even though I was in a room filled with incredible people, it just seemed as though we were being asked to grow grass in the desert.

Three million direct service providers in our country already, and a million more needed within less than ten years. Just how were we going to advocate for better working conditions for them in a world of anxiety and shrinking resources? Read more about the Voices Institute

From our News & Opinions Blog

In the News: staff cuts, budget setbacks and more

One of the best ways to become empowered is to get informed.  When you’re informed about what’s ... Read more »

The Culture Change Way: Empowering direct care workers to improve care

The following is a guest post from Rebecca Livesay, Program Associate – Communications and Outreach for NCCNHR: ... Read more »

A Call to Direct Care Leaders: Let’s bring our best selves to the cause

It is a critical time to become a leader… We’re starting to coagulate as a direct care worker ... Read more »

Letting Her Go: How direct care work prepared me to care for my wife

We direct care workers are a very important and powerful group of individuals. At times, we actually ... Read more »