Michigan-DSP : Message: Fwd: [NADSP_AFFILIATES] [Fwd: Contact Your Local News Reporters in Washington, DC]

FYI

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Mark Olson <olso4541@...>
Date: Fri, Aug 29, 2008 at 2:03 PM
Subject: [NADSP_AFFILIATES] [Fwd: Contact Your Local News Reporters in Washington, DC]
To: NADSP_AFFILIATES@...

NADSP Board and Affilliates,

Please get this out to your local contacts, the more media coverage we can get on HR 1279 . ANCOR is leading the charge as you can see with other organizations including NADSP in alliance. Board member Jennifer Adams and I will be representing NADSP at this DC event and would love to know if local chapter members will be in attendance. If you are able to get a local media outlet to cover your story as described in the ANCOR brief below let me know and I will do whatever I can to support that story as your Board President.

Mark Olson
NADSP Board President.

-------- Original Message --------

Subject:	Contact Your Local News Reporters in Washington, DC
Date:	Fri, 29 Aug 2008 13:35:12 -0400 (EDT)
From:	ANCOR National Advocacy Campaign <ancor@...>
Reply-To:	ancor@...
To:	olso4541@...

Is your agency sending a representative to Washington for DSPs to DC?

Washington Bureau journalists are always on the hunt for a good story to send back home. If your agency is sending a DSP or representative to the ANCOR National Advocacy Campaign DSPs to DC rally and Congressional visits on Sept. 9, here's a story idea.

Local media outlets may be interested in following a DSP from their home state to the Hill. A person who has never traveled to DC before to meet their member of Congress undoubtedly shows a courage and tenacity that would be refreshing to a journalist. This could be pitched as a "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" type story and provides a face and personal tie-in.

What: DSPs to DC Rally

Where: Upper Senate Park bounded by Constitution Ave., Delaware Ave., C St. NE/NW, New Jersey Ave. NW (look for fountain)
When: Tuesday, September 9, 2008 at 1:30 - 2:15 PM

Why: Seek co-sponsorship of HR 1279

Background

Direct Support Professionals (DSPs), often referred to as caregivers, personal assistants or home care aides, are the lynchpin to the ultimate success or failure of community based long-term supports for the elderly and people with disabilities. Inadequate wages, a national average of around $9.26 dollars per hour, have led to high turnover (as high as 86% in some residential settings) and ongoing vacancies in the direct support workforce. In comparison, the national average wage for a U.S. worker is nearly $17 per hour. H.R. 1279, theDirect Support Professionals Fairness and Security Act of 2007would amend Title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide funds to states to enable them to increase the wages paid to targeted direct support professionals who are providing services to seniors and individuals with disabilities under Medicaid.

Some Tips

Here are links to major news outlets' Washington, DC bureaus. Please check with the news outlet for your local paper and investigate to find a suitable journalist for your story. It might take some digging, and here are some links to help. QUESTIONS? Contact Denise Patton-Pace or Jocelyn Breeland.

Media List Assistance

For help creating your media list, take a look at Capwiz.

News Watch lists other major news outlets and DC bureaus.

Cox Newspapers Washington Bureau

400 North Capitol St., N.W., Suite 750

Washington, DC 20001-1536

Cox list of newspapers

Hearst News Service

700 12th St., NW Suite 1000

Washington, DC 20005 Telephone

(202) 263-6400

Chuck Lewis, Bureau Chief