OUR TEAM
Clare Luz, PhD, IMPART Alliance Director
Department of Family and Community Medicine, Michigan State University Dr. Luz is a gerontologist who has nearly 40 years of experience in the aging field and for the majority of the past 20 years, her research has focused on direct care workforce issues. She was the Research PI for the HRSA-funded Building Training…Building Quality™ (BTBQ™) project, a comprehensive DCW training program upon which IMPART is based. Dr. Luz will oversee all IMPART activities, and facilitate the establishment of a coalition comprised of employers, DCWs, clients and other stakeholders that can jointly generate innovative, feasible, affordable strategies that are beneficial to all parties.
Luz@msu.edu |
Chris Curtin, RN-BC, IMPART Alliance Associate Director
Executive Director, Community Services Network Chris Curtin has been involved with training direct care workers in Michigan since the mid 1980's. She has been instrumental in the development and piloting of the BTBQ curriculum from it's beginning, and through Community Services Network, has developed a system for customizing direct care worker training to meet the needs of employers throughout northern lower Michigan. Ms. Curtin will facilitate engagement of key stakeholders and development of relationships which will be crucial in moving the IMPART Alliance project forward. chriscurtinassociates@gmail.com |
Lauren Swanson-Aprill, MA
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Aging and Adult Services Agency (AASA) Lauren Swanson-Aprill has worked for AASA since 2002 with a primary focus on direct care workforce issues writing and implementing many grants with several partners that developed various trainings for direct care workers (DCWs)/personal care aides (PCAs). She most recently was involved with developing, piloting, and editing the Building Training…Building Quality™ (BTBQ™) curriculum and training process. Ms. Swanson-Aprill will provide ongoing consultation of the continued implementation of the BTBQ™ training throughout the state as part of the important next steps to build a strong Michigan DCW/PCA workforce with the IMPART Alliance project. SwansonL1@michigan.gov |
Shannon Harkins-Padgitt, MLIR
Department of Family and Community Medicine, Michigan State University Shannon Harkins-Padgitt has worked in outreach and continuing education for more than 25 years and specifically in the aging field for 20 years, most recently for the Area Agencies on Aging Association and the Michigan Society of Gerontology. Her deep appreciation for direct care workers stems in part from the many compassionate caregivers who assisted her father while he was living with dementia. Ms. Harkins-Padgitt is responsible for operations, project coordination, supporting research activities, reporting and supervising volunteers. harkins@msu.edu |
The IMPART Alliance Leadership Council
The IMPART Alliance Leadership Council includes Direct Care Workers (DCWs), clients, agency representatives, waiver agents, advocates, academics, adult day care and respite services, and others. These individuals are committed to tackling the tough challenges of building and strengthening the direct care workforce together! The wealth of knowledge and experience each of the council members brings to the table is vital to IMPART's long term goal of establishing a stable, competent workforce that can provide high quality, respectful care to older adults. The prospect of fresh voices and new, creative ideas is exciting!
The IMPART Alliance Leadership Council includes Direct Care Workers (DCWs), clients, agency representatives, waiver agents, advocates, academics, adult day care and respite services, and others. These individuals are committed to tackling the tough challenges of building and strengthening the direct care workforce together! The wealth of knowledge and experience each of the council members brings to the table is vital to IMPART's long term goal of establishing a stable, competent workforce that can provide high quality, respectful care to older adults. The prospect of fresh voices and new, creative ideas is exciting!
Leadership Council Members:
Laura Alexander, Compassionate Care Home Health Services
Mark Bomberg, Michigan Commission on Aging
Melanie Brim, Michigan Health Council, Executive Director
Quisha Brown, Humanistic Home Care, LLC, Owner
Ryan Cowmeadow, Area Agencies on Aging Association of Michigan, Special Projects
Emily Dieppa, PHI, Organizational Change Consultant
Sue Fierro, Direct Care Worker
Yvonne Fleener, Helping Hands Respite Care, Executive Director
Charles Gliozzo, Client family member
Henrietta Ivey, Direct Care Worker
Valerie Jemerson, Talent Development Liaison, Workforce Development, Industry Engagement-Sector Strategies
Tammy Lemmer, TriCounty Office on Aging, Community Relations & Grant Manager
Jennifer Lugo, Direct Care Worker
Vernette Mahone, Direct Care Worker
Mare Martell-Stotler, Direct Care Worker
Wendy Martin, Crystal Penny, Inc., owner
Chris Miller, BrightStar Care of East Lansing, Owner
Dawn O'Neal, Addus HealthCare, Agency Director, Detroit
Marion Owen, TriCounty Office on Aging, Executive Director
Lee Reiman, Client family member, Employer
Lauren Swanson-Aprill, Aging and Adult Services Agency