A Descriptive List of Web Links Related to PAS

The Carework Network is an international organization of researchers, policymakers, and advocates involved in various domains of care work. Carework research and policy focus on the caring work of individuals, families, communities, paid caregivers, social service agencies, and state bureaucracies, and ask important questions about such matters as:

• how women's labor force participation has affected the nature & scope of women's and men's caring work;
• how identities influence carework;
• how inequality based on gender, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, and other factors relates to caring;
• how caring work is recognized and compensated;
• how various state welfare policies the distribution of carework;
• and whether and to what extent citizens have a right to receive, and a duty to provide, care.

This guide is for people who care for family members or others with Alzheimer's disease (AD) at home. Includes information about how AD changes a person; coping with these changes; helping family and friends understand AD; making your home safe for the person with AD; and managing everyday activities like eating, bathing, dressing and grooming.

The Center for Home Care Policy and Research has become recognized as the pre-eminent research center for home care and is the only of its kind in the nation.

The DCA is a unique coalition of consumers, workers, and concerned providers dedicated to ensuring a stable, valued and well-trained workforce in long-term care.

Disability.gov, is a redesigned federal Web site that connects more than 50 million Americans with disabilities to thousands of trusted resources on disability-related issues, programs and services. Formerly known as DisabilityInfo.gov, the site has been completely redesigned and updated with new social media tools, such as a blog and a Twitter feed, to encourage feedback and interaction among visitors. Disability.gov is not just for Americans with disabilities, but also for parents of children with disabilities, employers, workforce and human resource professionals, veterans, educators, caregivers and many others.

The American Psychological Association's Family Caregiver Briefcase is now available. An online resource for those who work with family caregivers, the Briefcase can help professionals recognize, anticipate, and reduce the stresses on family caregivers across the life span. It provides guidance on how to assist caregivers through individual and organizational practice, research, teaching, and community service. Segments of the briefcase are also useful for family caregivers.

The components of the Family Caregiver Briefcase include:

• Caregiving facts and figures
• Strategies for reaching family caregivers
• Caregiving interventions
• Assessment tools
• Variations in practice for culturally diverse groups
• Practical aspects of providing services
• Research opportunities and considerations
• Teaching about Caregiving
• Advocacy on behalf of family caregivers
• Resources for diverse populations and age groups

An initiative from the Paraprofessional Healthcare Institute, Health Care for Heath Care Workers aims to bring public attention to the crisis facing tens of thousands of direct-care workers who assist millions of Americans with age-related and other disabilities but lack coverage themselves.

The Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities (ICDD) has funded a three year workforce systems change initiative designed to improve recruitment and retention of Direct Support Professionals in Illinois, who are competent and confident in the skills needed to provide quality supports and services to individuals with developmental disabilities. Partners for this project include the University of Minnesota's Institute on Community Integration, the Institute on Disability and Human Development at UIC, and the Human Services Research Institute.

Iowa CareGivers Association (ICA) is Iowa's first independent statewide professional association for Certified Nurse Assistants, Home Care Aides, Patient Care Technicians, and other direct care/support workers who deliver 80-90% of the care in Iowa's nursing facilities, home care agencies and in many other health care settings

ICA provides education, information, support and advocacy for those who perform direct resident/patient/client care. ICA also conducts market research relative to staff recruitment and retention.

Medicare has a new website for caregivers connecting them to Medicare resources. The website provides information on navigating Medicare, assistance with billing, and exploring care options and other sources of help.

The National Alliance for Caregiving is dedicated to providing support and information to family caregivers and to increasing public awareness of issues facing family caregivers.

The National Center on Workforce and Disability/Adult provides training, technical assistance, policy analysis, and information to improve access for all in the workforce system. This section includes resources for people with disabilities who are seeking jobs.

The National Clearinghouse on the Direct Care Workforce tracks national and state policies that relate to the PAS workforce. This includes a national survey of state workforce initiatives and information on recruitment, training, mentoring, career advancement, management and supervisory training, workplace culture and caregiving practices, wages and benefits, worker supports and other valuable information. Information for consumers of Personal Assistance Services can be found on their Consumer Direction section of the Direct Care Clearinghouse web site.

The National Direct Service Workforce (DSW) Resource Center supports efforts to improve recruitment and retention of direct service workers who help people with disabilities and older adults to live independently and with dignity.

For people who have family members as caregivers, this website gives tips and advice for families and caregivers.

The National Health Policy Forum is a participant-driven, nonpartisan information exchange program that works to foster more informed government decision-making.

A project of the University of Southern California Andrus Gerontology Center, this resource center has an online directoy of home modifications resources, aimed at promoting independence and preventing accidents in the home.

It is also the home to another project titled "Caregiver Adaptations to Reduce Environmental Stress" aimed at increaing caregiver use of environmental coping strategies to reduce physical burden and strain.

PHI PolicyWorks gives users access to, up-to-date statistics, timely research and analysis, and strategic legislative and regulatory recommendations. PolicyWorks features:

• Strategic Areas - Frameworks for understanding the leading policy issues affecting the direct-care workforce
• Workforce Facts - An introduction to the demographics, size, and economic impact of the direct-care workforce
• Policy Recommendations - Strategic recommendations on the critical issues affecting direct-care workers
• Chart Gallery - High quality graphics highlighting key data on the direct-care workforce
• Guide to Accessing Federal Recovery Act Funds - Help for those interested in taking advantage of the unprecedented level of public resources now available
• Health Reform Resource Center - Resources to help ensure that national health reform works for the direct-care workforce

Quality Mall is a place where you can find lots of free information about person-centered supports for people with developmental disabilities. Each of the Mall stores has departments you can look through to learn about positive practices that help people with developmental disabilities live, work and participate in our communities and improve the quality of their supports.

RewardingWork.org is an online direct care job registry connecting employees and employers in Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Jersey.

The Rosalynn Carter Institute establishes local, state and national partnerships committed to building quality long-term, home and community- based services. We believe strongly in the need to provide greater recognition and support for America's professional and family caregivers. Our focus includes supporting individuals and caregivers coping with chronic illness and disability across the lifespan as well as limitations due to aging.

The Service Employees International Union is 1.8 million working people and 50,000 retirees united to improve services and our communities throughout North America. It is the largest health care union, with 900,000 members in the field, including nurses, LPNs, doctors, lab technicians, nursing home workers and home care workers.

The Annapolis Coalition is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving the recruitment, retention, training, and performance of the prevention and treatment workforce in the mental health and addictions sectors of the behavioral health field.