The Direct Care Alliance is seeking a few good people to attend it’s annual Voices Institute Workshop.

The Institute is accepting applications until April 31.

From the VI Brochure: (PDF)

The Voices Institute workshops are intensive, week-long retreats that help direct care workers develop their leadership and advocacy skills.
Attendees learn about advocacy, fundraising, organizational development, message development, and more.
Graduates become bolder and savvier, more confident, and more active in advocating for themselves and their profession. Our 2008 graduates are already changing the world by:

Testifying before lawmakers
Building relationships with legislators to raise their awareness of direct care worker issues
Putting on conferences for their worker associations
Writing letters to government officials to request better wages and working conditions
Raising funds and building membership for their worker associations
Speaking at conferences and other public events
Each year, more Voices Institute graduates will provide their critical perspective to the movement to improve direct care jobs.

More: PDF

This week-long workshop provides an intensive, in-person leadership development experience to a select group of direct care workers from worker associations and coalitions around the country, providing them with the skills and support they need to be effective leaders.

The 2009 National Leadership Training is being held from September 27 to October 3 at a retreat center in Racine Wisconsin, near the Milwaukee airport.

All travel, meal, and lodging expenses will be covered by the DCA. In addition, an $80 daily stipend will be paid to all attendees who qualify. However, attendees will need to contribute a $300 participation fee. We will help the people accepted into the program raise their participation fees.

Candidates must meet the following criteria:
1. Employed as a direct care worker (certified nurse aides (CNAs), home health aides, direct support professionals, personal care attendants, private duty aides, geriatric aides, and other frontline workers).
2. Recommended and/or nominated by their direct care worker association or workforce
coalition. Preference will be given to workers in leadership positions.
3. Demonstrate commitment to active involvement in an advocacy campaign at the state or
national level and coordination with DCA’s National Advocacy Director.
4. Have access to computer and e-mail.

If you’re interested, apply ONLINE HERE, or download this form and mail it to the DCA. I am tentatively planning to attend and would love to meet some of you there! For some ideas about what to expect, a couple Direct Care Workers have posted their experiences HERE and HERE.

As the saying goes: Let’s roll!