IMPART Alliance's Podcast
A major shortage of direct care workers (DCWs) in Michigan threatens the delivery of long-term, home, and community-based services that support individuals with disabilities and older adults.
Join us to hear conversations with DCWs, partners, experts, and key stakeholders working to help Michigan build a strong direct care workforce through advocacy, training, and sustainable career development initiatives.
Each episode contains powerful information, testimonials, and updates on current developments within the workforce.
IMPART Alliance's Podcast
Heather Picotte
In this episode of the IMPART Alliance podcast, we are joined by Heather Picotte, a communications architect for IMPART Alliance and Age Alive. The conversation, recorded live in Marquette, Michigan, delves into Heather's journey and her profound connection to direct care work, inspired by her mother’s long career in the field.
She also discusses the critical shortage of 36,000 direct-care workers in Michigan, particularly in rural areas like some locations in the Upper Peninsula, and the challenges faced by caregivers, including lack of training, low pay, and limited support.
Heather's dual role with IMPART Alliance and Age Alive involves advocating for direct-care workers and promoting aging-related research and intergenerational programming. She underscores the significance of collaboration and open dialogue to address the complex challenges in the direct care field.