Webinar: Strengthening the Direct Care Workforce in Your State

The United States is facing a dire shortage of direct care workers who provide essential services to older adults and individuals with disabilities. Although state officials understand the importance of meaningfully supporting the direct care workforce, they often struggle to identify how to tackle the problem in a systematic, effective way. A Milbank Memorial Fund webinar held May 20 explored state levers for change and key areas for action, such as raising wages and collecting and using data to inform interventions. These actions will support the development of a comprehensive approach to addressing the economic insecurity of the workforce and improving its capacity.

This 75-minute webinar drew on a Milbank Memorial Fund toolkit, The Direct Care Workforce Policy and Action Guide, by Courtney Roman, Carrie Graham, and Nida Joseph of the Center for Health Care Strategies, Clare Luz of IMPART Alliance/Michigan State University, and Kate McEvoy of the Milbank Memorial Fund. It also offered insights from states that are bolstering their support for the direct care workforce.

Panelists:

• Kate McEvoy, Milbank Memorial Fund (moderator)
• Courtney Roman, Center for Health Care Strategies
• Julia Figueira-McDonough, Consultant to the Blue Shield California Foundation
• Clare Luz, IMPART Alliance/Michigan State University

View the slides

Watch the recording

Read the transcript