National Advocacy Campaign

A look at our future

Without increased Medicaid funding, providers will not have adequate resources to offer competitive wages and benefits to Direct Support Professionals. Medicaid cuts exacerbate workforce erosion and severely impact the quality and accessibility of professional support services.

Your support for the National Advocacy Campaign is crucial in order to enable mentally retarded and developmentally disabled Americans to live and work in their communities and enjoy the daily liberties and human rights the rest of us take for granted. Their Medicaid funding is being threatened, which will force them back into institutions, forfeiting their dignity, pride and means of contributing to society - their jobs.

Even more alarming, the severity of the direct support workforce crisis is compounded as the U.S. population ages and more and more individuals with infirmities seek long-term care support services.

Decreasing Medicaid will decimate the workforce and cripple the accessibility of quality support services.
Without quality and continuity in direct support services, families become emotionally and financially drained.
Aging parents are afraid of the future for their children. When they cannot support them, who will?

By working together, we can resolve this crisis.

Our states must give private providers the opportunity to fairly compensate the direct support professionals who make such a huge difference in the lives of so many.
We must address the workforce training, retention and funding issues that are jeopardizing community-based supports and services for more than eight million Americans.

Please help! There are numerous ways to get involved and make a difference.

Visit ANCOR's Action Center often to take action on issues important to you!

Direct Support Professional Wage Bill (H.R. 5197) Introduced In House
Urge Your Representative to Co-Sponsor Bipartisan Terry-Capps Bill (October 1, 2004) --Your support is needed to obtain co-sponsors for this bill. The process is EASY & FAST! It will take you less than 4 minutes to let your Representative know where you stand on this issue.

Sign the online petition.

Tell your legislators to make compensation for direct support professionals a priority in your state. Sign the campaign petition protesting the shameful wages fixed by the states for this skilled work.

Tell Everyone about the National Advocacy Campaign!

Show the compelling The NAC Story: Stablizing Our Long-Term Care Workforce
Make a presentation to community groups to garner support: Kiwanis, Rotary, Lions, Knights of Columbus, etc.
Ask friends, neighbors, family and employees to join the National Advocacy Campaign.
Deliver the "Make a Difference" Public Service Announcements to your local television stations.

Volunteer Your Time and Expertise!

ANCOR and the National Advocacy Campaign have two opportunities for you to volunteer your time. Please take a moment to read the descriptions below. When you are done simply send an email to Catherine Dunkelberger at cdunkelberger@anocr.org and let her know where you would like to volunteer your time!

Contact ANCOR for more information at ancor@ancor.org.