Dignity, January 01, 2006, Page 7, Image 7

Career Opportunities for Homecare Workers
With the roll-out of the training
program we negotiated in this
contract, there will be opportunities
for a select number of homecare
workers to compete for training
assistant positions throughout the
state. The Homecare Commission
will begin providing training in
January 2006 on communication
skills, health and safety and other
skill areas that improve quality
of care.
Training assistants will be required
to submit an application and go
through a competitive selection
process with the Homecare
Commission. These will be part
time positions in addition to your
current position as a homecare
worker. Training assistants work on
an "as needed" basis throughout
the state and will go through
extensive "train the trainer" classes.
Some responsibilities will include
providing assistance to the trainer
in setting up the training sites,
helping with registration and
classroom activities.
If you are interested in applying for
a position as a training assistant,
please call your organizer for an
application. (See "Call your
Organizer" on page 2).
Training classes held in Salem
Waldon Cast Vote to Cut Medicaid Budget
Give Tax Cuts to the Wealthy
Shame on Congressman Greg Waldon.
On December 8, 2005, Congressman
Waldon helped pass $56 billion dollars
in tax cuts for America's most wealthy.
On November 18th, he voted to pass
a $50 billion package of spending cuts
that will affect Oregon's seniors and
people with disabilities, food assis­
tance for low income families, and
other programs designed to help the
working poor. Walden appears to be
the only member of Oregon's
Congressional Delegation willing to
vote for food stamp cuts.
Over 400 homecare workers and their
clients wrote personal letters to
Congress begging them to support
Medicaid and not cut funding for
services that literally mean the differ­
ence between life and death.
Congressman Waldon needs to be
held accountable for his vote. And we
need to remember how he voted
when he is up for re-election.
‘Dignity
Here's what some said:
"Please save Medicaid from cuts. I am a widow who needs a caregiver
full-time. If I lose my caregiver, I won't be able to stay in my own home
or receive the medications I need."
"1 contracted polio when I was two. In spite of serious complications and
ongoing health problems, I worked for close to 30 years. Now my hands
are almost useless and without my homecare worker, I would be nearly
helpless. I don't want to live in an institution. Please don't cut
Medicaid."
"I am an 81 year old and I don't know what will happen to me if I don't
have Medicaid. I need my worker to be here 3 times a week, really more,
but I have to make do. She is the sweetest, most thoughtful worker. She
keeps me from going into a nursing home."
"I can't tell you how upset I am with the proposal to cut social services.
Stop it! The poor cannot give anymore."
"I am a caregiver. Bless us one and all who can do for ourselves. Bless
them who need care. We need to take care of the populace that are this
close to be homeless or in a nursing home."