Iowa direct-care workers with State Senator Jack Hatch (D, Des Moines)

Forty-five direct-care workers and their supporters participated in the Iowa Caregivers Association’s (ICA) annual Direct-Care Worker Day at the State Capitol.

Blizzard-like conditions the previous night made for hazardous travel conditions on the morning of February 15, 2010. Still, more than half of the 70 pre-registrants were able to attend and made the day a tremendous success.

Direct-Care Worker (DCW) Day featured a legislative briefing in the morning led by John Hale, the Association’s policy director. Hale discussed the day’s theme — Iowa’s growing “care gap.” State Senator Jack Hatch spoke to the group about the importance of building a relationship with their legislators.

Building Relationships with State Policymakers

“We had a great talk with our Senator about the care gap in Iowa,” said Becky Johnson, a participating direct-care worker. “[State Senator] Amanda Ragan was very cordial and took great interest in what we had to say.”

Johnson continued:

This experience was awesome and well-received. Senator Ragan made us feel very comfortable, which gave us the confidence to voice our concerns to her. This is my second visit to the Capitol. Since my first visit, I have been to local forums, sent e-mails, and am friends on Facebook with Senator Ragan. I feel that I actually have a good relationship with her.

Cindy Ramer, an ICA Direct-Care Worker Leadership Council member who has participated in most of the DCW Days at the State Capitol, said, “I was pleased to be able to talk with both my representative and senator.”

Ramer added:

[State Representative] Andrew Wenthe had a picture taken of him and me and is sending it to my local newspapers. Both he and [State Senator] Bill Heckroth understand what the care gap means and agree to continue to work for legislation that will improve those problems. They both would also be willing to do a ‘Come Care with Me Day’ at my workplace.

Each time that I contact these legislators, they show interest in the needs that other direct-care staff and I share. I have learned that by continuing to communicate with them, they remember me and what my needs are. They show an honest effort to help by keeping me informed of the legislation they are working on, e-mailing me their newsletters, and notifying me of local listening posts. I can respond on whether I feel it is good or not. Every year these events get bigger and better!

Quantity and Quality

The day was not just about the quantity of conversations that occurred, according to Hale:

The thing that impressed me was the quality of the conversations. A lot of legislator education occurred about the duties of direct-care workers, the distinctions between the jobs of nurses and direct-care staff, and the fact that direct-care jobs exist in locations other than nursing and assisted living facilities. Many legislators made the time to really listen and engage the workers in conversation. That made the day particularly valuable.

This was the fifth DCW Day sponsored by the ICA. The Association’s Leadership Council, a group of 15 direct-care workers who help guide the Association’s work, has already begun the process of evaluating the day to identify how it can be improved for next year.

– by the Iowa Caregivers Association