-----Original Message-----
From: US Dept of HHS: Press Releases, Other Info
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Henneghan, Martha (HHS/OS)
Sent: Friday, May 28, 2004 10:05 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: HHS RELEASE--PERSONAL ASSISTANCE WORKERS

Date:  May 28, 2004
For Release:  Immediately
Contact: CMS Public Affairs
(202) 690-6145

Headline;  HHS EXPANDS DEMONSTRATIONS TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN PERSONAL
ASSISTANCE WORKERS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson today announced five new demonstration
grants aimed at helping recruit, train and retain direct service workers who
provide personal assistance to people with disabilities who need help with
eating, bathing, dressing and other activities of daily living.

Grants totaling nearly $5.6 million will be distributed to pay for the
demonstrations, three of which will test offering health insurance benefits
for workers to determine if that would help keep workers on the job.

"We need to find ways to attract and support caregivers who provide these
vital services," Secretary Thompson said.  "These additional demonstration
projects will help us learn what actions are necessary to increase and
stabilize this workforce."

A part of the President's New Freedom Initiative, the Demonstration to
Improve the Direct Service Community Workforce will grant $1.4 million each
to the Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services, the Home Care
Quality Authority, a Washington state agency, and Bridges, Inc., a
non-profit service agency in Indiana. Each of these grantees will be
offering health insurance to direct service workers during the three-year
demonstration.  Grants of $680,000 each will go to the Arkansas Department
of Human Services and Seven Counties Services, Inc., a service provider in
Kentucky, for developing educational materials, training of service workers,
mentorship programs and other activities.

"A compassionate and competent direct care workforce is an essential element
of our community-based long term care system," CMS Administrator Mark B.
McClellan, M.D., Ph.D., said. "These demonstrations will help determine if
access to health insurance and other work incentives will attract and retain
these workers."

In 2001, President Bush launched the New Freedom Initiative, which promotes
the goal of removing barriers to community living for people with
disabilities. Under this initiative, 10 federal agencies have collaborated
to remove barriers to community living.  Secretary Thompson established the
HHS Office on Disability in October 2002 to lead HHS agencies in addressing
the New Freedom Initiative.

More information about this program and the President's New Freedom
Initiative is available at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/newfreedom.

###


Note: All HHS press releases, fact sheets and other press materials are
available at http://www.hhs.gov/news.