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This fact sheet gives an overview of the direct-care workforce describing job titles, responsibilities, worker demographics, wages, benefits, and the growing demand for workers. These workers go by many names, but they fall into three main occupational categories: nursing assistants (usually known as certified nursing assistants or CNAs), home health aides, and personal and home care aides. View this overview for statistics and data.

This is the first in a series of newsletters produced at the Exchange to provide assistance to our CMS Real Systems Change grantees. This newsletter is produced biannually. Topics include: 2004 Real Choice Systems Change Grant Solicitation; Real Choice Systems Change Grant Summary Chart; Clearinghouse for The Community Living Exchange Collaborative. A table includes the types of Real Choice Systems Change Grants that the Community Living Exchange Collaborative provides technical assistance to.

This is the second in a series of newsletters produced at the Exchange to provide assistance to our CMS Real Systems Change grantees. This newsletter is produced biannually. Topics include: Connecting the Dots: Maryland; Money Follows the Person: Grantee Meeting in Nevada; Information Technology (IT) Systems Survey for Single Point of Entry; Housing Work Group Established for Real Choice Grantees; Children’s Mental Health Audio Conference.

This guidebook is written to provide information about Minnesota’s Personal Care Assistance (PCA) program and the many options consumers have. The state strives for a consumer directed service model. Sections in this guidebook define services, help consumers develop skills and provide resources to help take more control of the important services that allow independent living. This guidebook is current as of September 2004.

Passport to Independence is a federally-funded pilot project led by Delaware Health and Social Services’ Division of Services for Aging and Adults with Physical Disabilities (DSAAPD). The overall goal of the program is to identify, inform and assist nursing home residents, especially those who are Medicaid-eligible, who want to move to a new home by offering individualized case management to accomplish the goal. Review the Program Brochure Nursing Home Transition Brochure and Transition Guide.

A survey in West Virginia was conducted in February-March of 2005 regarding: 1. Hospice programs that serve adults with developmental disabilities (DD) 2. training and educational materials for hospice staff on caring for people with DD 3. information about hospice end-of-life care developed for service provider staff and families. The national information gathering activity was initiated by the Association of University Centers on Developmental Disabilities. This report reviews the results.

This is the third in a series of newsletters produced at the Exchange to provide assistance to our CMS Real Systems Change grantees. This newsletter is produced biannually. Topics include: Physicians’ Role in Determining Level of Care, Nurse Practice Policies for Home and Community Living, ADRC Toolbox, Massachusetts Connecting the Dots, Making Medicaid Work in the 21st Century, Assessment Instruments, HCBS Quality Management Roles & Responsibilities, Family Caregiving, and Housing.

According to an analysis of 15 large lenders by the National Community Reinvestment Coalition, \"African-Americans were nearly three times as likely as whites to take out higher-cost subprime mortgages in 2004,\" reported USA TODAY. The study is based on data that lenders recently began releasing to comply with new rules under the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act.

U.S. Reps. Tom Reynolds (R-N.Y.) and Ben Cardin (D-Md.)introduced a Homeownership Credit bill that could help as many as 50,000 families a year achieve homeownership. This Act may be cited as the Renewing the Dream Tax Credit Act. <br> Bill Abstract: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow an income tax credit for the provision of homeownership and community development, and for other purposes.

Administration Proposed Voucher Reform Bill<br> Senator Wayne Allard has introduces a new Senate Bill for Administration-Proposed Voucher Reform. Bill Abstract: To better assist low-income families to obtain decent, safe, and affordable housing as a means of increasing their economic and personal wellbeing through the conversion of the existing section 8 housing choice voucher program into a flexible voucher program, and for other purposes.