NJAAW and PHI have partnered to build on the progress many NJ organizations have made in supporting the direct care workforce. As the COVID-19 pandemic has made clear, direct care workers provide critical support to older adults and people with disabilities across the state. Inadequate compensation, limited training and advancement opportunities, and other challenges are pushing direct care workers away from this sector, making it more difficult for providers to meet current and growing demand.

The Essential Jobs, Essential Care initiative brings stakeholders together to transform direct care jobs in order to improve services and supports for older adults and people with disabilities in New Jersey. Throughout this two-day convening, participants will gain an enhanced understanding of this initiative, identify opportunities for engagement, and participate in structured conversations to determine policy and advocacy priorities to improve direct care jobs across the state.

NJAAW and PHI invite stakeholders and workers in NJ’s direct care field – those working with older adults, the disability community, providers, policymakers, LTC staff – to attend this first convening. “The workforce provides essential services for so many NJ residents,” said NJAAW’s Executive Director Cathy Rowe, DrPH. “The time to plan for recruiting, training, retaining and building career paths to meet a growing need for care is now.”

May 23 and 24 will be virtual, from 9:00 a.m. to noon.

For more details and to register, click here:  tinyurl.com/p6sbmp6j