WALA News for Feb 19, 2007

  1. Biennial Budget: AL Highlights, Hearing Schedule
  2. WALA Spring Conference-Sign Up Now!
  3. DHFS Offering Three Free Trainings Around The State
  4. From ALFA: Union "Card Check" Bill Moves Through Congress
  5. WALA Membership Renewal Campaign Continues

1. Biennial Budget: AL Highlights, Hearing Schedule

Governor Doyle released his 2007-09 biennial budget proposal last Tuesday. It included three primary items of interest to assisted living:

The Joint Finance Committee will hold six public hearings on the budget in late March and early April:

Specific locations will be released in the near future. E-mail dbush@ewala.org if you are interested in testifying.

2. WALA Spring Conference-Sign Up Now!

Our 12th annual Spring Conference is shaping up to be the best ever! Join WALA in Madison on Tuesday, March 27 for our optional pre-conference, "Training the Non-Nurse to Evaluate and Respond." Stay on Wednesday and Thursday, March 28 and 29, for keynotes, breakout sessions, and a chance to meet with over 60 exhibitors. We have special tracks for clinicians, leaders and AFH operators.

Take advantage of our Thursday caregiver program with its caregiver rate.

As a special offer, you can receive our discounted Early Bird registration after Friday's deadline! Just mention code "BLAST" on your registration form or through our website to get the Early Bird rate. This offer ends March 9.

NEW - OQA Director Otis Woods will be delivering remarks on behalf of new DHFS Secretary Kevin Hayden at the Wednesday opening keynote.

3. DHFS Offering Three Free Trainings Around The State

The Wisconsin Caregiver Project, an initiative of the state Office of Caregiver Quality, has developed three new trainings. Funded through a special grant from the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services, these programs are available to all direct care workers, managers and supervisors across the state. Trainings will be offered from March through June in various locations statewide. The three topics to be offered are: Responding to Challenging Situations, Conducting Internal Investigations and Experiential Training on Abuse and Neglect Prevention. For more information or to register visit the Wisconsin Caregiver Project.

4. From ALFA: Union "Card Check" Bill Moves Through Congress

Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives are moving forward with H.R. 800, the Employee Free Choice Act. It would allow labor unions to organize through a "card check" procedure, collecting signed authorization cards from a majority of employees, rather than a secret ballot. The Assisted Living Federation of America, WALA's national partner, is opposing this legislation.

The House Education and Labor Committee approved the bill on February 14. It is a top priority for Democrats and is almost certain to pass the whole House this week. ALFA has joined the Coalition for a Democratic Workplace, which includes the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and other leading trade and business associations, to oppose this legislation in the Senate.

5. WALA Membership Renewal Campaign Continues

Our 2007 membership campaign is moving along-we're already at 75% of our goal for the year. If you have not yet renewed, now is the time! Members receive a host of benefits, such the Assisted Living Resource Directory which will be landing in members' mailboxes any day now, the upcoming March issue of our WALA Watch newsletter, and this very Blast you are reading. Don't make this Blast your last; renew today and show your support for assisted living!

CORRECTION

In our last Blast, WALA mentioned that a final draft of HFS-83 had been completed and hearings were to follow shortly. This was incorrect; OQA has finished their final draft, but it is now with the DHFS Office of Legal Counsel, who will make final changes before hearings begin. WALA apologizes for the error and will keep you posted when hearings are finally announced.

 

 


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