Trust for Workers

WHAT WE DO

The mission of the Trust for Workers is to promote good working conditions, economic security for workers, and worker voice and agency in the home care industry. The Trust ensures mission-alignment of large-scale home care programs through: (1) program impact monitoring and measurement, (2) consulting on best practices for high road employment in home care, and (3) advocacy for better worker standards in the home care industry.

INNOVATIVE STRUCTURE

The Trust is structured as a perpetual non-charitable purpose trust. The pro-worker purpose of the trust is permanently locked into its governance documents. The Trust is a vehicle to take an ownership interest in companies that administer large-scale home care programs to more effectively influence operations and ensure high road practices.

CD WASHINGTON

In 2019, the Trust formed a joint venture with Consumer Direct Care Network to administer the Consumer Directed Employer (CDE) Program in Washington State. In August of 2019, the joint venture – called Consumer Direct Washington (CDWA) – won the bid to administer the program in the southern half of Washington State. In November of 2019, the State of Washington awarded CDWA a statewide contract to administer the program. CDWA began implementation in January 2020, will employ its first home care worker in October 2021, and, once fully transitioned, will employ over 45,000 home care workers.

TRUST PARTNERS

The Trust is administered by three organizations that have been collaborating for over 25 years to create high-quality jobs in the home care industry.

PHI works to transform eldercare and disability services by fostering dignity, respect, and independence for all who receive care, and all who provide it. As the nation’s leading authority on the direct care workforce, PHI promotes quality direct care jobs as the foundation for quality care.

Launched in 1985, CHCA is the largest worker-owned cooperative in the United States, employing over 2,000+ caregiver-owners that serve New York’s Medicaid home care population.

Founded in 1977, the ICA Group is a leading expert on worker ownership and the oldest national organization dedicated to the development of worker cooperatives. ICA seeks to change the nature of work by advancing businesses and institutions that center worker voice, grow worker wealth, and build worker power.