Direct Care Alliance Announces Carla D. Washington as New Executive Director

NEW YORK, April 10, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Direct Care Alliance (DCA) is pleased to welcome Carla D. Washington as its new Executive Director. Ms. Washington will lead DCA's work to grow the movement to improve direct care jobs.

"I am delighted to join DCA," said Ms. Washington. "I have known for a long time about direct care work because my mother was a CNA for 29 years and I'm excited to be a part of the movement to improve the profession. I'm deeply impressed by DCA's leadership training, worker-led advocacy and credentialing programs, all of which help to empower direct care workers and get the respect they deserve. I look forward to working with DCA's excellent staff and board to grow these programs and find new ways to elevate this profession."

Ms. Washington comes to DCA from the national headquarters of the Alliance for Children and Families in Milwaukee, where she was director of an initiative aimed at strengthening the human services provided to older adults. Her 20 years of experience as a program developer, director and fundraiser in government, health care and human services will make her a highly effective leader for DCA's public policy work, and for DCA programs such as the Leonila Vega Voices Institute. Ms. Washington also has extensive expertise in managing stakeholder outreach and relations.

"Carla's background and her passion for improving living conditions for low-income workers make her a perfect fit for the job," said DCA Board Chair Tracy Dudzinski. "Plus, as the daughter of a career CNA, she understands the rewards and challenges we direct care workers encounter every day on the job."

Ms. Washington has managed programs for the City of Milwaukee Health Department, the YWCA of Southeastern Wisconsin, and Milwaukee's Froedtert Hospital. A member of the Urban Economic Development Association, she has a bachelors of science in business/marketing from Marquette University and an MBA in management from the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater.

The Direct Care Alliance is the national advocacy voice of direct care workers in long-term care. We empower workers to speak out for better wages, benefits and training, so more people can commit to direct care as a career. We also convene powerful allies nationwide to build consensus for change.

Contact: David Ward
212-730-0741 | [email protected]

SOURCE Direct Care Alliance, Inc.