Shared Story

I have worked in Social and Human Services for as long as I can remember. Though I have never worked as a direct care worker, I have worked in positions alongside to DCWs, and without them, my work would not have been possible. They're literally the foundation for so much of the social service work that occurs at our county and state levels. 

My first interactions with direct care workers occurred when I was working as a Project Out Case Manager in Wyoming. Project Out was a program within one of the state's Centers for Independent Living, and I worked to transition folks out of nursing homes, or work to prevent them from being admitted in the first place. I relied heavily on Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) to ensure my consumers could have the services they needed in their homes, remaining as independent as possible. Without DCWs coming in and providing critical services, many of our consumers would not have been able to stay in their homes, or transition back into their communities after a hospital or rehabilitation stay. 

In the same vein, I worked as an Adult Protective Services caseworker in my rural Colorado county. Again, I found myself working alongside Single Entry Point, and HCBS services and providers. Many of our referrals were living in their communities unsafely, but with the right services in place, could remain in their homes and communities. We would sometimes even get calls if an individual wasn't having enough help coming into their homes, so we would work with self-directed programs to see if any family members or friends could fill that void. So many vulnerable adults experience a need in our communities, and without these services in their homes, will be faced with decisions about where and how they can live. Direct Care Workers can be the difference between a vulnerable adult remaining in their home, or having to look at other options. Talk about life-changing! We have to find a way to value the work they do, and their willingness to step in to care for those who need it most.