Partnership in Action
Research, Updates, News, and MoreReport Chronicles and Commends Workforce Council
This post summarizes the July 2025 a program evaluation of the Direct Care and Support Professional Advisory Council.
The Public Turns Out to Support LD 1932 and Maine’s Essential Care & Support Workforce
On January 20th, close to 150 individuals provided members of the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services with real life stories and expert testimony supporting the passage of LD 1932 “Maine Essential Care and Support Workforce Enhancement Act.” Here’s what they had to say.
LD 1932 Gets National Attention and Praise
Strengthening Maine’s Care and Support Systems: Turning Ideas into Policy – an article about the formation and merits of LD 1932 “An Act to Support Essential Support Workers and Enhance Workforce Development.”
Public Hearing Scheduled for Speaker Fecteau’s LD 1932, a Bill to Address Maine’s Direct Care Workforce Shortage
Maine’s economy and communities depend on a strong, reliable direct care workforce and LD 1932 provides solutions to ensure this strong and reliable workforce.
NPR’s A1 Addresses the Financial Burdens of Caregiving
In-home elder care costs are rising more than three times faster than inflation. Why is the cost of care going up? What can be done to combat those costs?
An Aging America Needs a Stronger Care Workforce
An opinion piece from the National Skills Coalition
Worker Portability Efforts Moving Forward
Personal Support Specialists (PSS) and Direct Support Professionals (DSP) are the first essential care & support workers to benefit from streamlined and updated training and certification. We are happy to provide this update on the State’s progress in rolling out these new training programs.
Looking Ahead to Year Four of the Partnership
Year four is underway with some exciting new initiatives at the same time the Partnership will be grappling with the setbacks we experienced in the long session of the 132nd Maine Legislature. While the session was certainly challenging, here are a few things we were able to accomplish, and a look to what this Fall and beyond will bring.
Final Days of the Long Session of Maine’s 132nd Legislature
The results of this legislative session were a setback for Maine’s Essential Care & Support Workforce and the people they serve. We were able to mitigate some of the worst impacts and look forward to continuing to fight for wages and working conditions this essential workforce deserves.
Insufficient Cost of Living Adjustments (COLAs) Jeopardize Progress
COLAs are an important tool to ensure that every person who needs care and support services in Maine is able to receive consistent and predictable care and support from a well-trained and appropriately-compensated workforce. We lost ground this session.