NYSACRA

DON’T MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY!!

“TOMORROW’S ISSUES TODAY:  MEDICAID REFORM, QUALITY & WORKFORCE”

Don’t forget to register for NYSACRA’s o­ne-day leadership conference at the Gideon Putnam Hotel, Saratoga Springs o­n September 17, 2003, called “Tomorrow’s Issues Today: Medicaid Reform, Quality & Workforce.”  In addition to an expert panel addressing quality and the workforce and Medicaid Senior Health Policy Analyst, Melanie Nathanson, from the Center o­n Budget and Policy Priorities, Washington, DC, NYSACRA brings you the important opportunity to provide input o­n where we should be going as a field in the next few years.  Given pressing economic issues, workforce demographics and the growth of person centered/person directed services and organized health care delivery, it is important to join this facilitated and strategic discussion.  For more information about this conference visit NYSACRA’s website, www.nysacra.org or Click Here or call the office for a brochure.

NYSACRA DIRECT CARE GENERALIST GRANT

As we mentioned earlier in August, NYSACRA has obtained a grant to fund the implementation of the Direct Care Generalist Certificate Program in six upstate regions, Western, Rochester, Central, Utica-Watertown, Northeastern and Northern Metropolitan. The certificate program is currently being funded and administered in New York City Region by the City University of New York (CUNY) and the John F. Kennedy Jr. Institute for Worker Education and in Long Island by the Alliance of LI.

The curriculum consists of a non-credit assessment and college preparatory workshop (Bridge to College), four credit bearing special topics courses up to 12-16 credits (Direct Care Generalist Certificate Program), and a workshop to assist participants in demonstrating and documenting nationally validated o­n-the-job competencies (Community Support Skills Standards).  The main objective is to train direct care workers to meet the requirements of a changing developmental disabilities industry and to provide a foundation for longer-term employment and career mobility in the field.  NYSACRA is having preliminary meetings to discuss the grant and will be contacting our members in the near future to proceed with the grant and to obtain your support and help in its implementation.