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Home Care Election Nominations

Home Care Elections

Hello there!

Thank you so much for showing interest in being a part of our strength and growth as a Home Care Union! It truly is the leadership of PCAs, Clients, and Family Caregivers like you that keeps us moving toward a truly sustainable Home Care program in Minnesota. As caregivers, we know firsthand what is working - and what needs work. Training and Orientation are foundational to making Home Care the career it deserves to be, and it is incredibly important that they are built by workers and the people we care for.

The election for these seats will be held at our Statewide Member Meeting on Saturday, June 3rd. Please register to attend here: https://seiu.mn/hcjune23

State Provider Cooperation Committee (SPCC)

The State-Provider Cooperation Committee (SPCC) is our version of what is sometimes called a Labor-Management Committee (LMC) in other Union contracts. The purpose of this committee as it is defined in our contract is to give Home Care Workers (or “Providers”) and the State of Minnesota a place to “deal with mutually identified issues through a problem-solving approach and make related recommendations to the Department of Human Services (DHS)”.

There are six committee members representing the State of Minnesota and six committee members representing the Union. The Union committee is made up of two Union staff to support the committee, three Home Care Workers and one Client.

There are currently three worker seats up for election.

Committee members should expect to spend at least 2-4 hours per month preparing for and attending meetings.

Candidates do not need to be policy experts to serve on this committee, they only need to be willing to learn! Members of this committee are representing thousands of home care workers and program participants. Committee members will bring their own experience to the table, but must also be able to understand and represent the experiences and perspectives of other home care workers and program participants.

Candidates (alphabetical by last name):

Douglas Basballe
Home Care Role: Community Caregiver
Years of Experience: 10 years
What skills, experience, and perspective will you bring to the work of this committee?
I have worked full time with the same quadriplegic client for over 10 years. Throughout this period, I have worked 7 days a week. In the last two years, I've had a total of 9 days off. 4 of those days were because my father almost passed due to Covid. I would love to have regular days off, but we have struggled to find reliable staff. I know first hand the sacrifices that this type of work takes and want to work hard to make the job appealing as a career for more people. I'm good at finding solutions to problems. I also question the status quo. If a better way can be found to achieve the same (or superior) results, I work to make that a reality. I have been an enthusiastic supporter for the union from the very beginning. I am thrilled to see the progress that our union has made in bettering the lives of our clients and the people who care for them.

Kormasah Deward
Home Care Role: Community Caregiver
Years of Experience: 12 years
What skills, experience, and perspective will you bring to the work of this committee?
I’ve worked as a home care giver in nursing homes I’ve seen both sides I understand both sides. I stand for what is right. I have tried to bring awareness to our union. I have attended a few submit. Done a couple of volunteer work, and I’ve done my best to fight the good fight. Good work ethics needs of the clients and how to better serve them and the workers And to serve for a better tomorrow

Delores Flynn
Home Care Role: Family Caregiver
Years of Experience: 50 yrs and 2 yrs as a paid caregiver
What skills, experience, and perspective will you bring to the work of this committee?
I have been doing this for 50 yrs, in addition to working in an Emergency Room and the Ramsey County Attorney's Office for 32 years. I am more than familiar with the medical end, the managerial hierarchy and the political aspect of homecare. I have the knowledge, experience, passion and ability to help enact change in these programs to fit the needs of the caregivers and improve the lives of the clients. I am no wallflower. I can be a team player but will speak up if needed. I am a good communicator, I have patience most of the time. I hope I can bring fresh ideas and energy to this committee. My perspective is from being a caregiver, a parent, a retired medical professional, a retired paralegal. I have been involved in finding services for my son from age 21/2 till now at 52.

Naomi Narvaez
Home Care Role: Family Caregiver, Community Caregiver
Years of Experience: 13 years
What skills, experience, and perspective will you bring to the work of this committee?
I've worked in Home Care for 13 years as a PCA/DSP with children and adults. Nine of those years were as a community caregiver and four as a family caregiver for a family member. I have also worked as an office assistant for a Bilingual (English & Spanish) Home Health Care agency. I processed timesheets, assisted with scheduling, created and translated documents, onboarded new PCA/DSPs, and managed online training for DSPs. In addition to this work, I have been Certified as a Nursing Assistant, provided Adult Rehabilitative Mental Health Services, obtained a Bachelor of Science in Social Work Degree from Saint Catherine University, and my licensure to practice as a Licensed Social Worker. I am currently a care coordinator at an outpatient community mental health clinic. Clients have shared an appreciation for my ability to sit with them (in discomfort), see, hear, believe, and validate them. In my work, I often use the person-in-environment and empowerment theory and understand the importance of rapport building, client autonomy, commitment to being culturally responsive, and trauma-informed. I have a growth mindset and am passionate about improving the quality and accessibility of client care on a systematic and individual level. I enjoy collaborating, problem-solving, thinking outside the box, and thinking through logistics, sustainability, efficiencies, and retention.

Shannonlee B McNeely
Home Care Role: Family Caregiver, I am a disabled employee, Dyscalculia & Dyslexia
Years of Experience: 14 yrs
What skills, experience, and perspective will you bring to the work of this committee?
I am a disabled home health care worker treated poorly by this system.

Lauren Thompson
Home Care Role: Home Care Client
Years of Experience: My entire life, 35 years, but officially in public homecare services for 24 years
What skills, experience, and perspective will you bring to the work of this committee?
I have been in the PCA programs, but also many different institutionalized settings and am familiar with those kinds of training standards which I believe would be beneficial to the SPCC. I also learn alot from the community as an advocate. I've also served on homecare negotiating teams for the contracts and I have alot of experience serving on committees.

JeMaria Ware
Home Care Role: Paid Parent
Years of Experience: 7 years
What skills, experience, and perspective will you bring to the work of this committee?
With my experience as a union member and union steward for almost 10 years for Ramsey County. I bring a wealth of knowledge and understanding of the rights and needs of home healthcare workers. As a business owner, mother to two special needs children, and RBT certified therapist, I bring perspective and insight into the challenges facing home health care workers and clients. My background in social services and child protection has given me exposure to a diverse group of people, which allows me to approach issues with empathy and understanding. Furthermore, my experience in holding office and serving on boards shows my ability to collaborate and work effectively with others towards a common goal. As a woman of color, I also bring diversity and inclusivity to the committee, ensuring that all perspectives are heard and considered. Thank you for your consideration.

Orientation Committee

We have dreamed about having an orientation program in home care for years and we finally won it in our most current contract negotiations! Now we will shape what this program looks like so that we can make sure everyone knows the power of our union and how they can be involved!

At this time there are two seats up for election to join our staff Sumer Spika and Phillip Cryan on this committee. This committee may grow in the future, as we build the program, but for now we will have four total SEIU representatives on this committee.

What will this committee do?

Candidates (alphabetical by last name):

Kerry Adelmann
Home Care Role: Family Caregiver
Years of Experience: 7 years
What skills, experience, and perspective will you bring to the work of this committee?
Bargaining committee, political leader, business analyst, experienced PCA

Rachel Angela Bendickson
Home Care Role: Paid Parent
Years of Experience: like three years
What skills, experience, and perspective will you bring to the work of this committee?
To the voters,

I am writing to you to tell you the reason why you should vote for me for this position. I do have a BA in Business Administration along with an Associates degree in Criminal Justice. Along with college I was involved in extra things that also helped my leadership and management skills. I was the president of the Criminal Justice Club, I was a regular volunteer at the democratic headquarters, and part of the students council. I also have been taking care of my 9 year old handicap son because no daycare would be able to care for him and his medical needs. Along with his care I have two other daughters and my husband had to have open heart surgery and suffered three strokes which blinded him and making him permanently disabled so caring for my family is all I do and I definitely feel we need to do whatever we care to better the home care union, so you definitely don't have to think twice about voting for me I will fight every day to better this industry because this is my whole life.

Cherase Coleman
Home Care Role: Community Caregiver
Years of Experience: 15yrs
What skills, experience, and perspective will you bring to the work of this committee?
Being a team player learning and understanding how the committee works

Beth R Davis
Home Care Role: Paid Parent, Family Caregiver, Medically trained jealth care provider
Years of Experience: 22yr
What skills, experience, and perspective will you bring to the work of this committee?
USArmy New Solider Orrentation Officer. Certified in ACLS, PALS. 1STVAID/PARAMEDIC. Aldo taught 6-12 science. Been a PCA_medical provider for over 22yr.

Starlisha Doby
Home Care Role: Community Caregiver, Paid Parent, Family Caregiver, Home Care Client, Work as a Staffing Coordinator at a Home Care Agency
Years of Experience: 20 years
What skills, experience, and perspective will you bring to the work of this committee?
My son William is Autistic, non verbal, and my greatest teacher in life! William is turning 21 on 5/23 and we are so proud of him!

My beautiful journey with William has has equipped me with a special kind of love, respect, patience, and understanding for a segment of people that society tends to forget about.

I was a caregiver several years. My mother also receives PCA services. My perspective is one that understands how it feels to the daughter, parent and caregiver of someone with special needs. Because my son is non verbal and I speak for him during his assessments, I also have a perspective on what it is like to be the client.

On the other hand, working at a Home Care Agency for 8 years has given me a different perspective. I work with Case Managers, Nurses, Assessors, Client’s and PCA’s. My job requires a vast amount of knowledge including the understanding of service agreements, billing, insurance, client intake, waivers, reimbursement rates, employee recruitment etc.

As the journey continues, it has been an honor to be my son’s mother. It would also be an honor to advocate not only for my son and my mom but for all that have been mistreated, misplaced and forgotten by society.

Marslion Eleby
Home Care Role: Family Caregiver
Years of Experience: Started Home Care in 1996
What skills, experience, and perspective will you bring to the work of this committee?
My experience & skills is working very hard & close wit my clients. To give care , love & support to them. Help as much as I can with want is needed with care , housing ( if I could) & trying to keep them Happy.

Tunisia Irby
Home Care Role: Paid Parent
Years of Experience: Over 10 years
What skills, experience, and perspective will you bring to the work of this committee?
I am a mother of five and two that have disabilities. So, I strongly believe in the mission of SEIU. I have had to advocate for services for both of them. In addition, I'm a leader, entrepreneur, and volunteer who has mentored and volunteered with organizations such as Women Venture, Dress for Sucess, Score, and, most recently, Girls Taking Action. It would be an honor to serve on the Orientation committee.

Tonya Kilgore
Home Care Role: Home Care Client
Years of Experience: 25 plus years
What skills, experience, and perspective will you bring to the work of this committee?
All

Lonna Seger
Home Care Role: Family Caregiver
Years of Experience: 5 years
What skills, experience, and perspective will you bring to the work of this committee?
Professionally I am a Nurse Practitioner. I have not been able to work in my field since right before Covid, due to our adult son not being able to attend day program any longer and our struggle to find PCA care for him. His dad (my husband) and I are his only caregivers/PCA’s. We do not have any family or others who can assist in his care. My 25+ yr experience as a nurse and 34 yrs as a parent of a disabled child and now adult, has given me first hand skills, perspective and so much experience in this realm. The disabled community needs our help; the families who love and care for these children and adults need our help; PCA’s need our help & understanding as well as training to develop skills that can help so many people in our own communities and state. I feel that people who are directly affected would be the greatest advocates; therefore, I feel that I could contribute greatly to this position with training as a Nurse Practitioner and as a parent of a disabled adult.

Galen Smith
Home Care Role: Community Caregiver, Family Caregiver
Years of Experience: My first job as a care worker was 30 years ago.
What skills, experience, and perspective will you bring to the work of this committee?
I am a queer, trans, disabled, care worker, organizer and facilitator. I am a white settler on Dakota land. I have been doing care work for over thirty years. I helped organize the home care union as an SEIU staff organizer ten years ago. My deepest desire is for a world where everyone receives the care they need, nobody feels like a burden, and nobody is burdened by care work. I would like to be a part of shaping our new orientation program that it is aligned with the values of Disability Justice and with the radical care values of Interdependence, Boundaries, Vulnerability, Integrity and Creativity.

Antonia Smith-Bosire
Home Care Role: Paid Parent
Years of Experience: 14 years
What skills, experience, and perspective will you bring to the work of this committee?
I'm a licensed CNA and I've worked with many children with disabilities

Chelsey Swenson
Home Care Role: Community Caregiver
Years of Experience: 4 years
What skills, experience, and perspective will you bring to the work of this committee?
A compassionate but realistic view on caregiving and what may be needed for starting out as a caregiver

Lisa White
Home Care Role: Paid Parent, Program Manager
Years of Experience: 5 years in this role, off and on past 20 years as and Occupational Therapist
What skills, experience, and perspective will you bring to the work of this committee?
I have 38 years healthcare, community, policy/regulation, advocacy, education and equal rights experience in various healthcare roles.

Ellen Wiederhoeft
Home Care Role: Community Caregiver
Years of Experience: 7 years
What skills, experience, and perspective will you bring to the work of this committee?
Experienced bargaining team member (general contract and EVV), committed to seeing the home care workforce and clients thrive, multiple years of experience as a home care worker, currently pursuing a graduate certificate in Disability Policy & Services, analytic and research-orientated

Lisa Zietlow
Home Care Role: Paid Parent, Family Caregiver
Years of Experience: 8 years
What skills, experience, and perspective will you bring to the work of this committee?
I have many skills from when I worked in customer service before my son was born, I have experience working outside my home as a PCA and working in group homes, and the perspective I’d like to bring would be that if from the Special Needs world of compassion and patience. A great personality, energy and knowledge of waivers and the system (somewhat)