Gov. Whitmer signs supplemental funding to support COVID-19 recovery plan, additional work now needed to fully utilize federal aid
Funding secured for wage increase for direct care workers, schools, emergency rental assistance, vaccine administration, and testing.
LANSING, Mich. Today Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed legislation that supports the COVID-19 recovery plan she sent to the legislature in January. It includes key provisions of the governor’s MI COVID Recovery Plan, including a $2.25/hour wage increase for direct care workers, $283 million in federal emergency rental assistance to help ensure people can stay in their homes, up to $110 million in federal funding for vaccine administration, and up to $555 million in federal funding for testing and tracing.
Mar 10, 2021
LANSING The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has announced two new free infection control training videos are now available for direct care workers.
The videos were produced through a partnership with IMPART Alliance in the College of Osteopathic Medicine at Michigan State University. MDHHS granted IMPART Alliance $50,000 in COVID Relief Funds to develop an infection control curriculum and to make it widely available to direct care workers, as well as any other professional, clinical or family caregivers.
“We are excited to offer these courses on infection control for direct care workers to help protect both the clients and those who provide care to them,” said Kate Massey, senior deputy director of MDHHS’ Medical Services Administration. “Without proper training on infection control, direct care workers could unknowingly transfer COVID-19 or other infectious diseases from client to client, and put themselves, their families and the
The Daily Yonder Industry Lobbying Left Nursing Homes Vulnerable in Pandemic Lax regulations and minimal enforcement left the nursing homes exposed to dangers of highly transmissible diseases long before the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic hit.
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Nursing home employee Ashley Ford at her home in DeMotte, Indiana. (Photo by John J. Watkins for The Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting)
Even before Covid-19, aides caring for elderly and disabled people in nursing homes often were overworked and underpaid, doing everything from changing linens to helping residents eat to physically rotating them to prevent bed sores.
Ashley Ford often was one of four aides for as many as 42 residents at the Indiana nursing home where she’s worked since early 2019. She sometimes skipped breaks when work got busy so she wouldn’t leave patients waiting.
MDHHS - MDHHS announces direct care worker infection control training now available michigan.gov - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from michigan.gov Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Lawmakers approve temporary wage increase for direct care workers
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and last updated 2021-03-03 15:58:48-05
MICHIGAN â State lawmakers approved a wage increase of $2.25 per hour for direct care workers today, according to Resch Strategies.
Weâre told the increase is expected to last through the end of September.
Those working in direct care offer various services, such as emotional support, personal care, training and relief to roughly 100,000 state residents with developmental disabilities and mental illnesses, a Resch spokesperson tells us, adding that these workers often start at lower wages than those who work in the fast-food industry.
âWe are extraordinarily pleased that our stateâs leaders recognize the value these workers offer,â says Executive Director of The Arc Michigan Sherri Boyd. âDirect Care Workers provide essential services and their work is more important than ever.â