About the Conference

A Letter to Michigan’s Direct Care Workers

It is my honor to welcome you to IMPART Alliance’s inaugural Direct Care Worker Conference. It’s hard to believe we’ve arrived at this moment. This conference represents more than a decade of hard work and a milestone in our shared efforts to recognize, uplift and invest in the direct care workforce.

Michigan is home to more than 165,000 direct care workers. Every one of you plays a vital role in helping families, older adults and people with disabilities live with dignity, agency and independence. At the same time, we all know how challenging this job can be: low pay, long hours and little recognition. That’s why this conference, and the movement it represents, is so important. It’s about valuing you, supporting you and building a future where direct care is recognized as the essential profession it is.

IMPART Alliance has long worked to build a stronger, more stable direct care network across the state, and together we’ve already taken big steps forward. The adoption of the 15 core competencies set the foundation for professional recognition. Work is now underway to create statewide credentials, another major step toward making this a respected, sustainable career path. At IMPART, we’ve trained more than 500 direct care workers, and through 25 mini-grants, organizations across the state are piloting innovative solutions that make a real difference in people’s lives.

And of course, it’s important to mention our healing through the arts exhibit, A Caregiver’s Butterfly Garden. This exhibit, and the paper-folding required to create each butterfly, is a symbol of growth, connection, resilience and transformation—guiding principles behind our work to promote mental health and wellbeing for direct care workers.

Through training, advocacy and collaboration with partners statewide, we have seen how knowledge, skills and leadership among direct care workers directly translate into increased job satisfaction, improved quality of care and better health outcomes. This conference is an extension of that vision: a place where workers, employers, educators and advocates come together to learn, connect and share. The sessions, workshops and exhibitor experiences you will find here are designed to support direct care workers not only in their daily practice but also in their long-term professional development. By equipping workers with tools, resources and connections, we strengthen the entire care system—benefiting employers, communities and, above all, the individuals and families who rely on compassionate, skilled support.

We know that making time to attend is not easy. The work of direct care is demanding, and schedules are often full. But your presence here matters. The voices and ideas shared here will guide the future of training, inform policy advocacy efforts and contribute to reshaping Michigan’s approach to direct care.

I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge [space for specific thank-yous—MDHHS, planning committee, partner organizations, direct care workers, family caregivers, community allies, key contributors in the history of IMPART or the College of Osteopathic Medicine].

Thank you for being part of this important moment. Your participation affirms the value of direct care work and ensures that together we continue building a system that respects, sustains and uplifts all who give and receive care.

With gratitude,
Clare Luz