Logos for the Nancy Lurie Marks Foundation, The Lurie Institute for Disability Policy at Brandeis University’s Heller School, and the Direct Care Workforce Strategies Center.

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Meet the Speakers for the First Session of our Direct Care Workforce Convening, ‘State-Level Innovations to Address the Direct Care Workforce Crisis!’ 

In just 3 weeks, our three-part series, 'Ensuring the Future of Direct Care Supports for People with Disabilities: Combating the Workforce Crisis' will begin!


We kick things off on October 7th at 1 PM ET with 'State-Level Innovations to Address the Direct Care Workforce Crisis.' The session will provide an overview of state-led programs and technological innovations aimed at addressing workforce shortages. 

Session 1 Speakers:

Moderators. Joe Caldwell: Director of the Community Living Policy Center at the Lurie Institute for Disability Policy. Nicole Howell: Director of the Direct Care Workforce Development at the National Council on Aging. Panelists. Alison Giannini: Aging Services Branch Chief, California Department of Developmental Services. Jaime Spencer: Director of Workforce Initiatives, Maine DHHS, OADS. Susan Brooks: Chief Innovation Officer, RCM of Washington. Megan McKinney Todd: Executive Director, GoodLife University. Alison Pingelski: Associate Commissioner, Division of Administration, NY State Office for People With Developmental Disabilities. John Barbuto: Executive Deputy Commissioner, NY State Office for People With Developmental Disabilities


Explore our Zoom registation page to learn more about all three sessions and their speakers!

Preview of the virtual convening's Zoom registration page.


About the Virtual Convening


The Lurie Institute for Disability Policy at Brandeis University, in partnership with the Direct Care Workforce Strategies Center, is convening a virtual, three-part series in October to address the escalating crisis facing America’s direct care workforce, with a particular focus on home and community-based services (HCBS) and people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Support for this series is provided by the Nancy Lurie Marks Family Foundation.



The series will consist of three 90-minute sessions held over three weeks, bringing together leading scholars, policymakers, legislative staff, advocates, self-advocates, and state leaders from across the nation. Together, participants will showcase state-level innovations and technological strategies to strengthen and sustain the direct care workforce, examine challenges and opportunities in supporting people with IDD and their caregivers, and conclude with a focus on broader labor market forces, federal policies, and cross-sector, big-picture solutions to address the workforce crisis.

Webinar Accessibility


  • Each webinar will have simultaneous American Sign Language interpretation and English closed captioning. For any other accommodations, please email Lurie@Brandeis.edu as soon as possible.
  • The webinars will be recorded and made available after the webinar on our website and YouTube channel.



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