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HR 1279 Information and Updates

Text of H.R.1297- Direct Support Professionals Fairness and Security Act of 2007 (July 31, 2008)

Representative Lee Terry Dear Colleague Letter to Republican Members (July 25, 2008)

Chair of Energy and Commerce, Chair of Health Hold Hearing on People with Disabilities, Highlights HR 1279 (January 18, 2008)

Testimony and Webcast of Subcommittee on Health Hearing (January 29, 2008)

DSP and HR 1279 Background (August 3, 2007)

HR 1279 Q & A (August 3, 2007)

HR 1279 Current Co-Sponsor List (June 27, 2008)

Target List: Previous Co-Sponsors Not Yet on H.R. 1279 (June 27, 2008)

Workforce Shortage

Senate Adopts ANCOR’s DSP Recognition Week Resolution (July 16, 2008)
- ANCOR Thank You Letter to Senators
PHI’s Fact Sheet on Occupational Projections for Direct Support Workers (April 2008)
CMS March 19th Satellite Broadcast on “Supporting Rural Family Caregivers” (February 29, 2008)
National Direct Service Workforce Center Registration Now Open for Symposium May 8-9, 2008 in Baltimore (February 22, 2008)
CMS Direct Service Workforce Demonstration Promising Practices in Marketing, Recruitment and Selection Interventions (December 2006)
11% of Personal Care Workers Experience Depression (October 26, 2007)
House Holds Hearing on Companionship Legislation (October 26, 2007)
SAMSHA report: Depression Reported by 7% of Workforce (October 18, 2007)
ANCOR DSP Cited in Senator Harkin Floor Comments (September 19, 2007)
DOL Awards 6 Grants on Direct Care Workers (July 6, 2007)
PHI President Dawson to Institute on Medicine on Direct Care Workers (July 6, 2007)
CMS Updates on 10 Direct Worker Grants (July 2007)
Current House Cosponsors of HR 1279 (July 23, 2007)
HR 1279 Targets: Former House Cosponsors in 2006 (July 23, 2007)
July 4th Recess: Advocate for INDEPENDENCE for People with Disabilities (June 22, 2007)
- Sample HR 1279 Meeting Request Letter (August 3, 2007)
Recess Message (May 24, 2007)
Video Clip on Value of DSP (May 2007)
May Push on DSP Legislation: Act Today (May 2007)
Representatives Capps and Terry Reintroduce Direct Support Professionals Act (HR 1279) (March, 2007)
Representative Terry (R-NE) Press Release (March 1, 2007)
Nine Essential Elements to Quality Jobs for Caregivers
DOL Announces $2.5 Million in Available in Grants to Address LTC Workforce Challenges (February 16, 2007)
Promising Practices in Marketing, Recruitment and Selection (January 2007)
Return on Investment Calculator: A Tool for Analyzing State Investment in Direct Care Worker Wages (January 2007)
Engaging the Public Workforce Development System: Strategies for Investing in the Direct Care Workforce (January 2007)
CMS Extends Application Date for Individualized State TA on Direct Service Workforce (January 10, 2007)

2006

Find, Choose, and Keep Great DSPs—Toolkits for Individuals and Families (September 2006)
Recess Message
- Recess Message (August 16, 2006)
- H.R. 1264 DSP Fact Sheet (September 2006)
- H.R. 1264 Bill Highlights (July 2006)
- H.R. 1264 Q & A (July 2006)
Abstract: The Personal Assistance Workforce: Trends in Supply and Demand (Health Affairs, July/August)
CMS Launches New Direct Service Workforce Resource Center
Wages, Benefits and Flexibility Matter (Better Jobs Better Care) (July 14, 2006)

Labor Force through Tetention of Related Care (Better Jobs Better Care) (July 14, 2006)
HHS/ASPE Report on Supply of Direct Support Professionals (2006)
Key Disability Workforce Legislation on Congressional Radar (April 6, 2006)
Providers Should Urge State Medicaid Agencies to Express Interest by April 17 (March 2006)
2006 NAC Annual Report: Leading the Way (March 2006) Update (September 2006)
Tapping Into the Public Workforce Network: ANCOR/DoL Business Relations Group Pilot Project Partnership White Paper (March 7, 2006)
ANCOR BDO Seidman, LLC Report on Workforce" (September 2005)
- ANCOR's Press Release on Updated BDO Report
- Previous edition (December 16, 2002)
** ANCOR Background Material on H.R. 1264: Representatives Lee Terry and Lois Capps Introduced Direct Support Professional Fairness and Security Act Bill at Press Conference (March 10, 2005)
- Targeted House Members for October 2005 Visits
- Bill Would Raise Pay (Omaha World Herald, March 11, 2005)
- ANCOR Press Release (March 10, 2005)
- Background on Direct Support Professionals (February, 2005)
- Talking Points (February, 2005)
Representatives Terry-Capps Dear Colleague letter for H.R. 1264 (July 27, 2005)
New Issue Brief on Intersection of Family and Paid Caregiving (PHI, AAHSA, IFSA, June 2005)
National Commission Report Act Now Recommends Ways to Support Long-Term Care Workers, Improve Retention (National Commission on Nursing Workforce on Long-Term Care, April 2005)
Direct Service Workforce Activities of the Systems Change Grantees, Final Report (CMS, April 2004)
Representatives Lee Terry and Lois Capps Introduce Direct Support Professional Fairness and Security Act Bill at Press Conference (March 10, 2005)
- Bill Would Raise Pay (Omaha World Herald, March 11, 2005)
- ANCOR Press Release (March 10, 2005)
- Direct Support Professional Fact Sheet
- Bill Highlights (February, 2005)
- Question and Answers (February, 2005)
- Background on Direct Support Professionals (February, 2005)
- Talking Points (February, 2005)
ASPE Report to Congress on DSPs and People (November 2004)
Representative Lee Terry's Floor Statement on H.R. 5197 (October 13, 2004)
Direct Support Professional Wage Bill (H.R. 5197) Introduced In House (October 5, 2004)

PRESS RELEASE: ANCOR Hails Reps. Terry and Capps for Landmark Bi-Partisan Legislation: Bill to Buoy Wages for Long-Term Support Workers (September 21, 2004)
PRESS RELEASE: Pilot Program to Abate Direct Support Workforce Shortage Announced. Job Candidates to be Culled through DoL One-Stop Center Network (May 5, 2004)
CMS Launches Database of Provider Practices Impacting Worker Recruitment and Retention Click Here For Details

Reports and Resources

Issue Brief on Building Respectful Relationships as Key for Direct Workers (April 2007)
White Paper: Tapping Into the Public Workforce Network (February 2005) (Maine Radio PSA)
Direct Support Recognition Resolution PASSES in Both Houses of Congress!! This is a historic achievment in the annals of ANCOR history, establishing a solid foundation for moving the National Advocacy Campaign Forward
- House Recorded Vote a Resounding 382-0! (November 5, 2003)
Senate Resolution Passes By Unanimous Consent! (October 22, 2003)

Read the ANCOR Press Release
Read the Senate Passed Resolution and Senator Bunning's Statement (From Congressional Record) Page 1 of 2 --- Page 2 of 2

Workforce Demonstration Applications Released by CMS, Application Deadline is August 12th, 2003
National Wage Survey Available: Wages of Direct Support Professionals Serving Persons with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: A surveyof State Agencies and Private Residential Provider Trade Associations, University of Minnesota, Vol. 14, No. 2. (April, 2003)
Two CMS Federally Funded Projects on Workforce in Long Term Care (November 5, 2002)
CMS Launches Database of Provider Practices Impacting Worker Recruitment and Retention (November 5, 2002)
National Direct Care Workforce Study Finds States Considering the Direct Care Shortage a Serious Workforce Issue (August 16, 2002)
PHI Guide on Coaching as an Approach to Supervision (August 16, 2002)
Who Will Care for Us? Addressing the Long-Term Care Workforce Crisis
(.pdf file)
Companionship Information and Wage & Hour
President Bush's Executive Order Establishes DOL Office of the 21st Century Workforce (June 20, 2001)

Miscellaneous

Soliciting Innovative Workforce Recruitment and Retention Practices for CMS Report: Have or know of an innovative provider practice affecting direct care workers? ANCOR is helping the CMS contractor solicit provider practice nominations for a national report. Send your nomination to the Paraprofessional Healthcare Institute using the criteria/form attached to ANCOR's Alert. (April 5, 2002)
Issues in the Direct Support Workforce and their Connections to the Growth, Sustainability and Quality of Community Supports by Amy Hewitt, PhD and Charlie Lakin, PhD

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