Alaska
Alaska
Alliance for Direct Service Careers (AADSC)
P.O. Box 240249, Anchorage, AK 99524-0249
Phone: 907-269-8999
Email:
anhjf@uaa.alaska.edu
Alaska
Alliance for Direct Service Careers (AADSC) developed the following mission: "to promote the development of a highly competent
direct support workforce that supports people with disabilities in achieving their life goals".
Connecticut
Connecticut
Association of Personal Assistants
Debbie Barisano
Phone: 860-643-6452
Email: info@ctapa.org
PO Box 316
Manchester, CT 06045-0316
Website: www.ctapa.org
CTAPA’s goal is to elevate the job of personal assistants to a more professional level, develop a large and competent
workforce, and support education and advocacy. Founded in 2001 by personal assistants, it is funded through a grant from the
Connecticut Council on Developmental Disabilities.
Delaware
Delaware
Certified Nursing Assistants
Pat Engelhardt
Phone: 302-239-5290
Email: daveemc@earthlink.net
1859 Graves Road
Hockessin, DE 19707-9720
Founded in 2004, DCNA is an organization of CNAs dedicated to improving the work life of direct-care workers while
providing the opportunity for enrichment, socializing, and encouragement.
Florida
Florida
Association of Nurse Assistants
Terry Carleton-Bucher
Phone/Fax: 863-421-5807
Email: fana202@verizon.net
1920 Verano Drive #205
Haines City, FL 33844
Website: www.cwcreate.com/fana
FANA promotes continuing education, career information, and enhancement training for nursing assistants. It was incorporated
in December 1997. Its members include direct-care workers, facilities, and agencies in 50 counties in Florida, as well
as a few in other states.
Georgia
Georgia
Alliance of Direct Support Professionals
Lisa Robinson
Phone: 770-499-2172
Email: lrobinson@sespecialists.net
615 Roswell Street, Suite 110
Marietta, GA 30060
The
Georgia Allinace for Direct Support Professionals is a state affiliate of the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals
(NADSP), a coalition of organizations and individuals committed to strengthening the quality of human service support by strengthening
the workforce.
Indiana
National
Association for Direct-Care Workers of Color
John Booker
Phone: 574-289-9326
Email: j.booker@directcareworkersofcolor.org
2425 Poland Street
South Bend, IN 26619-3409
Website: www.directcareworkersofcolor.org
NADCWOC’s mission is to deliver quality care services to the elderly and the disabled by developing programs
to retain and train workers of color. Organized in 2002 by a group of current and former direct-care workers, it was incorporated
in 2003.
Indiana Care-Givers Association
John
Booker
Phone: 574-289-9326
Email: nadwoc@sbcglobal.net
P.O. Box 3036
South Bend, IN 46619
The Indiana Care-Givers Association
was founded in 2007. It seeks to strengthen the long-term services in Indiana by recognizing and supporting the development
of the direct-care workforce and profession.
Iowa
Iowa
CareGivers Association
Di Findley
Phone: 515-241-8697
Email: iowacga@aol.com
1117 Pleasant Street, Suite 221
Des Moines, IA 50309
Website:
www.iowacaregivers.org
Founded in 1992, ICA is a statewide network of services for certified nursing assistants, home health aides, and others
who have dedicated their careers to the care of others. It is the lead agency for Iowa’s Better Jobs/Better Care project.
Kansas
The Kansas Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (KADSP)
Kathy Olson for more information
phone: 620.421.6550
extension 1771
write her at: 2601 Gabriel Parsons, Kansas 67357
http://www.kadsp.lsi.ku.edu/
Mission:
Improving the quality of support for the people with disabilities in the state of Kansas by recognizing
and strengthening the role of the Direct Support Professional (DSP).
Kentucky
Support Providing
Employees' of Kentucky (SPEAK)
Jeff King
Phone: 502-459-0205 x120
Email: JKing@sevencounties.org
Website: www.dspspeak.org
The SPEAK association
was founded in July 2004 to give support to direct-support professionals (DSPs) in the Louisville, Kentucky metro region.
SPEAK offers a series of supports, including pre-service orientations, mentor/ apprenticeship programs, recognition of DSPs
who reach tenure milestones, and on-going professional development. SPEAK is funded through a grant by the U.S. Centers for
Medicare and Medicaid Services.
Louisiana
Louisiana Direct Support Professionals
Direct Support Professional (DSP) Coalition
LSUHSC/HDC
1100 Florida
Ave. #119
New Orleans, LA 70119
504-942-8289
504-942-5908 (fax)
Email: sdelvi@lsuhsc.edu
Maine
Maine
Personal Assistance Services Association (PASA)
Roy G. Gedat
Phone: 207-890-0773
Email: rggedat@exploremaine.com
PO Box 710
Norway, ME 04268
Website: www.mainepasa.org
Maine PASA is a coalition of direct-care, support, and personal assistance workers united to empower workers, build
opportunities for training, respect human dignity, and improve the quality of jobs for direct-care workers. The association
was established in 2002 after Maine was awarded a Workforce Demonstration grant by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
Minnesota
National Alliance
for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP)
Mark Olson, President.
Phone: 612-624-1157
Email: molson@nadsp.org
Institute on Community Integration
University of Minnesota
150 Pillsbury Drive SE Room 204
Minneapolis, MN
55455
Website: www.nadsp.org
The NADSP is a coalition
of organizations and individuals committed to strengthening the quality of human service support by strengthening the direct
support workforce. The group has representatives from the fields of mental health, developmental disabilities, child welfare,
education, and others in the human services community.
New Hampshire
New Hampshire Direct Support Professionals
David Johnson
Phone: 603-206-2743
Email: david.johnson@moorecenter.org
132 Titus Avenue
Manchester, NH 03103
Website: www.nhdsp.org
The NHDSP is a project of Moore Center Services, a large New Hampshire non-profit that serves individuals with developmental
disabilities. Its purpose is to create a hub of news, trainings, and recreational and educational opportunities for the Granite
State DSP workforce
New York
National Clearinghouse on the Direct Care Workforce
349 East 149th
Street, 10th Floor
Bronx, NY 10451
Phone: (718) 402-4138
Toll Free: (866) 402-4138
Fax: (718) 585-6852
Email:
Clearinghouse@PHInational.org
North Carolina
Direct-Care Workers Association of North Carolina
Amy M. Sabatino
DCWA-NC
PO Box 37365 Raleigh, NC 27627
(919) 327-9732
Fax (866) 873-4532
Website: www.dcwa-nc.org
The association’s goal is to improve the quality of care provided to health and long-term care consumers and
their families through education, professional development, and public awareness of direct-care workers. Incorporated in 2003,
it was funded by a Real Choice Systems Change grant from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
Career Nursing Assistants Network of North Carolina
Melvin
Whitley
Phone: 919-596-9691
Email: tellmelvin@nc.rr.com
2614 Harvard Ave.
Durham, N.C.27703
Founded in 2001, Career Nursing Assistants Network
of North Carolina is a chapter of the National Network of Career Nursing Assistant. They focus on reruitment, training, retention,
and career development, and in building a diverse membership base to influence decision-making in the health care community.
Ohio
National
Network of Career Nursing Assistants
Jeni Gipson
Phone:330-825 9342
Fax: 330-825 9378
Email: cnajeni@aol.com
3577 Easton Road
Norton, OH 44203
Website: www.cna-network.org
Members of the Career Nursing Assistants Program (CNAP) are known as the National Network of Career Nursing Assistants.
CNAP’s goal is to provide education and peer support development for nursing assistants in nursing homes and other long-term
care settings. In addition, it sponsors Career Nursing Assistants Day and Week, which are celebrated each year in June. The
association, made up of nursing assistants and other direct-care workers, was established in 1977.
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
Direct Care Workers Association
Better Jobs Better Care-PA
Karen Reever
Phone: 215-545-5728
Fax: 215-546-9963
Email: reever@carie.org
100 N. 17th St., Suite
600
Philadelphia, PA 19103
The PA Direct Care Worker Association, started by and for direct care workers in 2006, advances the profession through
idea sharing, peer support and skills building. The association aims to strengthen the quality of personal care for all Pennsylvanians
by providing education, advocacy, and support for the state's direct care profession.
CARE
Tamara
Dunlap
Phone:717-799-1858
Email: tamaradunlap2003@yahoo.com
This Pennsylvania-based association’s goal is to address the needs of direct-care workers. Founded in 2004, it
is primarily funded by the Pennsylvania Intra-Governmental Council on Long-Term Care.
Schuylkill County Direct Care
Professionals Association
Lori Michael
Phone: 570-385-8450
Email: jlskm@verizon.net
223 Route 61 South
Schuylkill
Haven, PA 17972
This northwestern Pennsylvania association was founded in 2004 to provide outreach to direct-care workers for professional
support. It is funded primarily by the Pennsylvania Intra-Governmental Council on Long Term Care. Monthly meetings take place
on the fourth Thursday of every month at 7:30am, 1pm, and 4pm. Meetings include an informational session on a topic of interest
to direct-care workers, followed by a brief business meeting and refreshments.
Tennesse
Direct Support Professionals Association of Tennesse
Earl
Foxx Jr.
Phone: 615-248-5878, ext. 29
Email: efoxx@dspat.org
151 Athens Way Suite 100
Nashville, Tennessee 37228
Website: www.dspat.org
DSPAT works to support direct-support workers by
providing support, trainings, and a network within which DSPs can communicate.
Mission Statement
The Direct Support Professional
Association of Tennessee advocates a high standard of care for people with disabilities and encourages training as well as
recognition for all direct support personnel. By promoting education and peer connections, we are creating a better caliber
work force that will elevate the quality of life for the people we support as well as for ourselves.
Texas
Texas Association of Nursing Assistants
www.texasana.com
Vermont
Vermont Association
of Professional Care Providers
Community of Vermont Elders (COVE)
Susan Gordon
Phone: 802-229-4731
Email: vapcp@vermontelders.org
PO Box 1276
Montpelier, VT 05602
Website: www.vermontelders.org
The Vermont Association of Professional Care Providers is a nonprofit, membership organization dedicated to advancing
the professional growth, employment opportunities, and quality of life for people who provide personal care and support services
in all home, community, and healthcare settings. It was incorporated in April 2004.
Virginia
Virginia
Association of Professional Nursing Assistants
Lorrene Maynard
Phone: 757-595-1483 (Available Saturday-Wednesday)
Email:
professionalcna@hotmail.com
410 Logan Place, Suite 30
Newport News, VA 23601
VAPNA’s goal is to promote quality health care for consumers and professional development for CNAs, and to provide
Virginia nursing assistants with a means of networking. The association was founded in 1997 and is run by direct-care workers.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin Association for Caregiver Excellence
Jackie Houser
Phone: 608-296-2052
2913 Pelham Rd
Madison, WI 53713
The Wisconsin Association for Caregiver Excellence is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing support and professional
development for caregivers through education in technical skills, career development, leadership skills, work-place interactions,
and employer-employee relations. It was founded in 2006.
