09/04/2026
With support from the NLM Family Foundation, 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).
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.
Join us for our upcoming virtual convening 'Ensuring the Future of Direct Care Supports for People with Disabilities: Combating the Workforce Crisis!'
When: October 7th, 14th, and 21st from 1 - 2:30 ET.
Where: Zoom. Register: TinyURL.com/DCWconvening
Accessibility: Each session will have simultaneous American Sign Language interpretation and English closed captioning.
Session Overviews:
Session 1: State-Level Innovations to Address the Direct Care Workforce Crisis
10/7/26 from 1-2:30 PM ET
Session 2: Supporting People with IDD and Family Caregivers—Challenges and Opportunities
10/14/26 from 1-2:30 PM ET
Session 3: Big-Picture Solutions and Cross-Sector Strategies
10/21/26 from 1-2:30 PM ET
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).
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.
Support for this series is provided by the Nancy Lurie Marks Family Foundation.
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Image description: Logos for the N L M Family Foundation, the Lurie Institute of Disability Policy at Brandeis University, and the Direct Care Workforce Strategies Center. Event title: Ensuring the Future of Direct Care Supports for People with Disabilities: Combating the Workforce Crisis. Event held on zoom with ASL interpretation and closed captioning. Register at Tiny U R L dot com forward slash D C W Convening. Sessions are listed. Session 1. 10/7 1 - 2:30 PM ET. State-Level Innovations to Address the Direct Care Workforce Crisis. Session 2. 10/14 1 - 2:30 PM ET. Supporting People with IDD and Family Caregivers: Challenges and Opportunities. Session 3. 10/21 1 - 2:30 PM ET. Big-Picture Solutions and Cross-Sector Strategies.
