State of Connecticut Office of Policy and Management

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Personal Care Attendant Workforce Council   Authorizing Statute: Section 17b-706a of the CT General Statutes

Contact The PCA Workforce Council 

Email: PCAcouncil@ct.gov
Phone: 860-418-6370 (please leave a message & we will return your call)

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  Members 

Member Category per CGC Section 17b-706a

Designee

Governor’s Appointment

“a member of an organization representing the interests of elderly consumers”

Fran Mazzarella

Housing Director, Corporation for Independent Living

Governor’s Appointment

“a member of an organization representing the interests of consumers with developmental disabilities”

Kathleen Flaherty

Executive Director, the Connecticut Legal Rights Project

Governor’s Appointment

“a member of an organization representing the interests of consumers with physical disabilities”

Eileen Healy

Executive Director, Independence Northwest, Center for Independent Living

House Speaker

“a member of an organization representing the interests of consumers with developmental disabilities”

Helen Taylor 

Parent 

DSS –Andrea Barton Reaves

“the Commissioner of the Department of Social Services or the Commissioner’s designee”

Christine Weston 

Chair of the PCA Workforce Council and Director, Community Options, DSS

OHA – Health Care Advocate

“the Healthcare Advocate or the Healthcare Advocate’s designee”

 

Adam Prizio

Staff Attorney, OHA

DDS – Commissioner

“the Commissioner of the Department of Developmental Services or the Commissioner’s designee”

Nicholas Jerard 

Chief Finacial Officer, DDS

Office of Policy and Management

“the Secretary of the Office of Policy & Management or the Secretary’s designee”

Appointment Pending 

House Majority Leader

“a member of an organization representing the interests of elderly consumers”

VACANT

House Minority Leader

“a member of an organization representing the interests of consumers with physical disabilities”

Lucas Sundwall

Consumer & Employer of Record

Senate Minority Leader

“a member of an organization representing the interests of elderly consumers”

 

Fran Sinish

Consumer/Older Adult

President Pro Tempore

“a member of an organization representing the interests of consumers with physical disabilities”

 

VACANT

Senate Majority Leader

“a member of an organization representing the interests of consumers with developmental disabilities”

Michelle Johnson 

Consumer Employer

Information on Council Member Roles and Responsibilities

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2024

October 23, 2024 - 9:30 A.M. - 11:30 A.M. via Microsoft Teams 

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Meeting ID: 227 279 650 958
Passcode: R9w6zr

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+1 860-840-2075,,95776402#   United States, Hartford

Phone Conference ID: 957 764 02#

 Agenda

 

July 23, 2024 - 9:30 A.M. - 11:30 A.M. via Microsoft Teams

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Meeting ID: 213 669 710 243
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+1 860-840-2075,,950799949#   United States, Hartford

Phone Conference ID: 950 799 949#

Agenda | Minutes

 

April 23, 2024 - 9:30 A.M. - 11:30 A.M. via Microsoft Teams

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Meeting ID: 277 161 426 924
Passcode: rQByCH

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+1 860-840-2075,,581899236#   United States, Hartford

Phone Conference ID: 581 899 236#

Agenda| Attendance, Votes and Recording | Minutes 

 

February 28, 2024 - Special Meeting

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Meeting ID: 228 344 633 757
Passcode: D5NMLX

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+1 860-840-2075,,321823720#   United States, Hartford

Phone Conference ID: 321 823 720#

Find a local number | Reset PIN

 

2022 Special Meeting Regarding PCA Registry Development 
Monday, November 14, 2022 - 11:30 A.M. - 12:00 P.M.

Microsoft Teams meeting

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Meeting ID: 213 826 961 614
Passcode: CrMQMp

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+1 860-840-2075,,159297753#   United States, Hartford

Phone Conference ID: 159 297 753#

2023 Meeting Schedule

Tuesday, January 24, 2023 – 9:30 A.M. – 11:30 A.M. 

Agenda | Recording and Minutes

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Meeting ID: 231 680 268 064
Passcode: tjDp5r

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+1 860-840-2075,,161370989#   United States, Hartford

Phone Conference ID: 161 370 989#

 

Tuesday, March 7, 2023 – 9:00 A.M. – 10:00 A.M. - SPECIAL MEETING 

A special meeting of the Council will be held to discuss matters related to collective bargaining. 

Agenda | Minutes 

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Meeting ID: 285 922 714 450
Passcode: WkPtuX

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+1 860-840-2075,,49512921#   United States, Hartford

Phone Conference ID: 495 129 21#

Tuesday, April 25, 2023 – 9:30 A.M. – 11:30 A.M. 

Agenda | Recording and Minutes 

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Meeting ID: 277 042 462 228
Passcode: xCoFLy

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+1 860-840-2075,,933941518#   United States, Hartford

Phone Conference ID: 933 941 518#

 

Tuesday, July 25, 2023 – 9:30 A.M. – 11:30 A.M. 

Agenda | Recording and Minutes 

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Meeting ID: 282 931 064 171
Passcode: cdGfPL

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+1 860-840-2075,,280582749#   United States, Hartford

Phone Conference ID: 280 582 749#

 

Tuesday, October 24, 2023 – 9:30 A.M. – 11:30 A.M. 

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Meeting ID: 236 243 649 340
Passcode: z2CjDf

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+1 860-840-2075,,831748168#   United States, Hartford

Phone Conference ID: 831 748 168#

Agenda| Attendance, Votes and Meeting Recording |Minutes | 2024 Meeting Schedule 

 

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UPDATE -  Consumers and PCAs Transition to New Fiscal Intermediary GT Independence on March 24, 2024 - Here Is What You Need to Know

 

 

PCA’s or staff need to utilize the unique identifier found in a 3/21/24 GTI email, it was resent on 3/23/2024 and sent directly to every PCA and staff (enrolled, pending enrollment or not enrolled at all). The email provides the process of enrolling in GTI but also provides a unique identifier that must be used to download the GTI application. If the DSP is unable to locate the email with the unique identifier, please make sure the DSP is recording their time and then contacts GTI customer service 1.877.659.4500 on Monday to manually enter the visit and retrieve the unique identifier.

 

They can also email customerservice@gtindependence.com and request information about the Unique ID.

 

 

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Good News!  Effective March 24, 2024 PCAs may begin using Paid Time Off (PTO)

 

Eligible PCAs may begin accessing accrued PTO effective March 24, 2024.  Accruals can be seen the worker's GT Independence Portal. 

PCAs will accrue PTO at the rate of .033 hours per every hour worked, up to a maximum of 50 hours per year. Per diem workers will accrue one 24-hour shift per every 58 days worked, for a maximum of six and one-quarter 24-hour shifts per year. PCAs must provide consumer-employers at least 7 calendar days’ notice of their intent to use PTO, in non-emergency situations. They may use accrued PTO in increments of 15 minutes of more. PCAs will accrue PTO separately for each consumer-employer, and they can only use PTO with the specific consumer-employer with whom it has accrued. New hires can begin accruing PTO immediately, but they cannot use it until they have completed 3 months of employment. *Under the DDS program, Consumer-Employers/Employer of Records (EORs) who already budget for PTO are not negatively impacted by benefits provided though the CBA.   

 

Covered Connecticut Program

*Consumer Employers/Employers of Record - *Please Consider Sharing with Your Employees*

We encourage you to let your employees know that the State of Connecticut has expanded the Covered Connecticut Program. Connecticut residents who meet specific eligibility requirements are paying $0 for their health insurance coverage through Access Health. The Covered Connecticut Program provides health insurance coverage, dental coverage, and Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT) administered by the Connecticut Department of Social Services.

Your employees can learn more about Covered Connecticut at AccessHealthCT.com and they can also complete an application on that website to see if they qualify for the program. In addition, free enrollment and eligibility help is available by calling Access Health at 1-855-805-4325. This is a very exciting program that provides health insurance coverage to thousands of Connecticut residents: please share this information with your employees as you see fit.

Covered Connecticut 1-Page Overview

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NEW! Council Corner - Information for Consumer Employers/Employers of Record 

Council Corners are brief updates on important information included in the newsletters disseminated by the state's fiscal intermediaries.  

July 2022 
November 2021
July 2021 

March 2021 

 

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The 4th Annual Employer Forum Is In The Books!

 Thank you to all of the consumer-employers who attended.

You made the day a success!

 

All of the Materials from the November 2, 2019 Forum Can Be Found Here

 

Overview of the Day

The PCA Workforce Council      

Electronic Visit Verification - It's Here !

I Have To Do What?  Your Responsibilities as An Employer or Employer of Record

Sunset Shores Payroll Tips

Allied Payroll Tips

          

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The 3rd annual PCA Employer Forum was a success!
All of the materials from the October 27, 2018
forum are available here:

Agenda

The PCA Workforce Council

Tips for Hiring A Personal Care Assistant

Electronic Visit Verification (EVV)

Overview of the 2018 Collective Bargaining Agreement

Handouts from Fiscal Intermediaries


Information About PCA Orientation  

Employers Choosing to Provide the Orientation Him/Herself

Employers that choose to provide the orientation him/herself must following these steps:         

  1. Complete the Opt-Out Form.  The form must be completed and returned to your fiscal intermediary within 14 days.  You may mail or fax the form.  The contact information for your fiscal intermediary is below.
  2. Inform your PCA of their requirement to attend the Union-Only portion of an orientation group session.  Under the collective bargaining agreement between the Workforce Council and the union that represents your PCA, 30 minutes of the orientation covers workers’ rights and responsibilities presented by a Union representative.  The first 30 minutes of every group session will cover these topics.  Registration for group sessions is covered below.
  3. Provide the rest of the orientation to your PCA.  You must follow the standard curriculum.  Orientation must be provided during non-service hours.  Your PCA will be paid $45.00 for completing the full orientation you provide and union-only portion of the orientation group session, which will not be counted against your service budget.
  4. Once completed, return the Employer Orientation Certification form.  Completing and returning this form promptly will ensure your PCA receives credit for completing orientation and is paid the orientation stipend.  Orientation is not complete until you have returned the Employer Orientation Certification form AND your PCA has attended the union-only session.

Fiscal Intermediary Contact Information

Allied Community Resources
860-627-5986 (fax)
1-877-722-8833 (phone)

Sunset Shores
1-866-380-0149 (fax)
1-800-887-0647 (option 1) (phone)

 

 

Orientation Group Sessions

Orientation group sessions are provided by the 1199 New England Health Care Employees Union and Training & Upgrading Fund under a contract with the Workforce Council.  For a list of orientation group sessions, click here.  Register now online by clicking here.

For more information regarding PCA orientation and training please contact the 1199 Training & Upgrading Fund at 860-804-4869.

   


Meetings

 

Documents
Recruitment/Retention/Referral Workgroup
 
Members

  Mary Caruso
   

Meetings 
  • June 4, 2014: Minutes
  • July 10, 2014: Agenda | Minutes
  • August 7, 2014: *CANCELED*
  • September 3, 2014: *CANCELED*
  • October 7, 2014: Agenda | Minutes
  • November 4, 2014: *CANCELED*
  • December 3, 2014: *CANCELED*
  • June 3, 2015: *CANCELED*
  • July 8, 2015:  Agenda |  Minutes
  • August 12, 2015:  Agenda | Minutes
  • September 2, 2015: *CANCELED*
  • October 7, 2015: *CANCELED*
  • November 4, 2015: *CANCELED*
  • December 2, 2015: *CANCELED*

 

Training Workgroup
Members
  • Greg McMahon
  • Sheila Mulvey
Meetings
  • October 9, 2014: Minutes
  • November 5, 2014: Agenda | Minutes
  • January 7, 2015: Agenda | Minutes
  • February 4, 2015: *CANCELED*
  • February 19, 2015: Minutes
  • March 4, 2015:
  • April 1, 2015: Agenda | Minutes
  • April 22, 2015: Agenda | Minutes
  • May 6, 2015: *CANCELED*
  • June 3, 2015: *CANCELED*
  • July 8, 2015:  Agenda | Minutes
  • August 12, 2015:  Agenda | Minutes
  • September 2, 2015: *CANCELED*
  • October 7, 2015: *CANCELED*
  • November 4, 2015: *CANCELED*
  • December 2, 2015: *CANCELED*

 

 

 

The 2nd Annual PCA Employer Forum was a success!

All of the materials from the November 4, 2017 forum are available here:

 

Agenda


The PCA Workforce Council


Meet Your Fiscal Intermediaries


Electronic Visit Verification


How to Recruit and Interview the Right PCA for You


Managing Your Individual Budget