IMPART Alliance's Podcast Mon, 18 May 2026 10:52:56 -0400 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2340430 en-us © 2026 IMPART Alliance's Podcast yes e58a30c2-2579-58fb-9c1e-dbf8bfbeceb2 impart@msu.edu IMPART Alliance episodic false A major shortage of direct care workers (DCWs) in Michigan threatens the delivery of long-term, home, and community-based services that support individuals with disabilities and older adults. 

Join us to hear conversations with DCWs, partners, experts, and key stakeholders working to help Michigan build a strong direct care workforce through advocacy, training, and sustainable career development initiatives. 

 Each episode contains powerful information, testimonials, and updates on current developments within the workforce. 

]]> Buzzsprout (https://www.buzzsprout.com) IMPART Alliance impart@msu.edu https://storage.buzzsprout.com/67ggc36v7l6zy687ig3aslq59iwf?.jpg IMPART Alliance's Podcast Sabrina Pickering, PurposeCare Sabrina Pickering, PurposeCare In this episode of the IMPART Alliance podcast Sabrina Pickering, the client care supervisor at PurposeCare shares her career journey since joining the direct care workforce. She also told us about her motivations to join and stay in this workforce as well as her great appreciation for all DCWs at PurposeCare, but especially the roughly 100 workers she helps manage. Sabrina was also a student at IMPART Alliance and has proudly completed three levels of training. Sabrina Pickering started her caregiving work at a group home when she was 18 years old. As she settled down and raised a family, she managed to secure a position in St. Joseph as a care work scheduler, where she continues working to this day. Sabrina lists her current tasks, including scheduling roughly 1,800 hours of care work each week, calling clients and DCW’s, and rushing out on site to assist clients firsthand.

Learn more about the IMPART Alliance training at https://impartalliance.msu.edu/training/, and about PurposeCare at https://purposecare.com/.

]]> In this episode of the IMPART Alliance podcast Sabrina Pickering, the client care supervisor at PurposeCare shares her career journey since joining the direct care workforce. She also told us about her motivations to join and stay in this workforce as well as her great appreciation for all DCWs at PurposeCare, but especially the roughly 100 workers she helps manage. Sabrina was also a student at IMPART Alliance and has proudly completed three levels of training. Sabrina Pickering started her caregiving work at a group home when she was 18 years old. As she settled down and raised a family, she managed to secure a position in St. Joseph as a care work scheduler, where she continues working to this day. Sabrina lists her current tasks, including scheduling roughly 1,800 hours of care work each week, calling clients and DCW’s, and rushing out on site to assist clients firsthand.

Learn more about the IMPART Alliance training at https://impartalliance.msu.edu/training/, and about PurposeCare at https://purposecare.com/.

]]> IMPART Alliance Buzzsprout-16816667 Tue, 18 Mar 2025 14:00:00 -0400 472 7 full false John Nordine John Nordine In this episode of the IMPART Alliance podcast, U.S. Air Force veteran and Detroit Lions fan, John Nordine, shares his life-changing journey with spinal cerebellar ataxia, which has significantly impacted his mobility. John highlights the essential role of direct care workers in his daily life and the challenges he faces due to limited support hours and worker shortages in his region.

Despite these challenges, John remains resilient, expressing hope for a future where direct care workers receive better training and compensation to meet the needs of those they serve. This episode sheds light on the crucial role of direct care and the need for systemic changes to support veterans like John and others in similar circumstances across Michigan.

]]> In this episode of the IMPART Alliance podcast, U.S. Air Force veteran and Detroit Lions fan, John Nordine, shares his life-changing journey with spinal cerebellar ataxia, which has significantly impacted his mobility. John highlights the essential role of direct care workers in his daily life and the challenges he faces due to limited support hours and worker shortages in his region.

Despite these challenges, John remains resilient, expressing hope for a future where direct care workers receive better training and compensation to meet the needs of those they serve. This episode sheds light on the crucial role of direct care and the need for systemic changes to support veterans like John and others in similar circumstances across Michigan.

]]> IMPART Alliance Buzzsprout-16033575 Tue, 12 Nov 2024 17:00:00 -0500 1009 direct care, caregiving, veteran, Michigan, Marquette, direct care worker, sports fan 6 full false Heather Picotte Heather Picotte In this episode of the IMPART Alliance podcast, we are joined by Heather Picotte, a communications architect for IMPART Alliance and Age Alive. The conversation, recorded live in Marquette, Michigan, delves into Heather's journey and her profound connection to direct care work, inspired by her mother’s long career in the field.

She also discusses the critical shortage of 36,000 direct-care workers in Michigan, particularly in rural areas like some locations in the Upper Peninsula, and the challenges faced by caregivers, including lack of training, low pay, and limited support. 

Heather's dual role with IMPART Alliance and Age Alive involves advocating for direct-care workers and promoting aging-related research and intergenerational programming. She underscores the significance of collaboration and open dialogue to address the complex challenges in the direct care field.

]]> In this episode of the IMPART Alliance podcast, we are joined by Heather Picotte, a communications architect for IMPART Alliance and Age Alive. The conversation, recorded live in Marquette, Michigan, delves into Heather's journey and her profound connection to direct care work, inspired by her mother’s long career in the field.

She also discusses the critical shortage of 36,000 direct-care workers in Michigan, particularly in rural areas like some locations in the Upper Peninsula, and the challenges faced by caregivers, including lack of training, low pay, and limited support. 

Heather's dual role with IMPART Alliance and Age Alive involves advocating for direct-care workers and promoting aging-related research and intergenerational programming. She underscores the significance of collaboration and open dialogue to address the complex challenges in the direct care field.

]]> IMPART Alliance Buzzsprout-15467993 Mon, 29 Jul 2024 15:00:00 -0400 1267 advocacy, direct care, caregiving, aging, Michigan, Marquette, direct care worker 5 full false Tam Cordes Tam Cordes In this episode of the IMPART Alliance podcast, we are joined by Tam Cordes, the course coordinator and training program developer at IMPART Alliance. Tam shares her extensive background in training, including her roles as an instructor at the American Red Cross, and an abuse prevention trainer.

She discusses how these experiences have shaped her current work at IMPART Alliance, where she coordinates comprehensive training programs for direct care workers. Tam also highlights the structure and content of the IMPART Alliance’s training courses, which are designed to enhance the skills and knowledge of caregivers, ensuring they provide the best possible care.

]]> In this episode of the IMPART Alliance podcast, we are joined by Tam Cordes, the course coordinator and training program developer at IMPART Alliance. Tam shares her extensive background in training, including her roles as an instructor at the American Red Cross, and an abuse prevention trainer.

She discusses how these experiences have shaped her current work at IMPART Alliance, where she coordinates comprehensive training programs for direct care workers. Tam also highlights the structure and content of the IMPART Alliance’s training courses, which are designed to enhance the skills and knowledge of caregivers, ensuring they provide the best possible care.

]]> IMPART Alliance Buzzsprout-15378196 Mon, 08 Jul 2024 09:00:00 -0400 577 direct care, caregiving, training, Michigan, direct care worker, education, course development 4 full false Clare Luz, Ph.D. Clare Luz, Ph.D. On this month’s podcast episode, we are joined by IMPART Alliance’s director, Clare Luz, Ph.D. Clare shares her journey from being a direct care worker until co-founding IMPART Alliance as well as exciting developments in the organization such as the mini-grant request for proposals and other achievements on behalf of the workforce.

]]> On this month’s podcast episode, we are joined by IMPART Alliance’s director, Clare Luz, Ph.D. Clare shares her journey from being a direct care worker until co-founding IMPART Alliance as well as exciting developments in the organization such as the mini-grant request for proposals and other achievements on behalf of the workforce.

]]> IMPART Alliance Buzzsprout-15231633 Tue, 11 Jun 2024 10:00:00 -0400 991 recruitment, advocacy, direct care, caregiving, workforce, Michigan, innovation, direct care worker 3 full false Bethany Duyser, DNP, RN, AGPCNP Bethany Duyser, DNP, RN, AGPCNP On our second podcast episode, we are joined by IMPART Alliance’s assistant director, Bethany Duyser, DNP, RN, AGPCNP. 

Bethany shares her journey from being an intern at IMPART Alliance during her doctorate studies to her current role as assistant director. She discusses her background as a registered nurse and adult gerontological primary care nurse practitioner and how it has influenced her work at IMPART Alliance.

In this discussion, Bethany also highlights the intersectionality of health professions and how they must work together to deliver the best care and support, as well as the challenges and opportunities in improving direct care worker jobs and workforce development.

]]> On our second podcast episode, we are joined by IMPART Alliance’s assistant director, Bethany Duyser, DNP, RN, AGPCNP. 

Bethany shares her journey from being an intern at IMPART Alliance during her doctorate studies to her current role as assistant director. She discusses her background as a registered nurse and adult gerontological primary care nurse practitioner and how it has influenced her work at IMPART Alliance.

In this discussion, Bethany also highlights the intersectionality of health professions and how they must work together to deliver the best care and support, as well as the challenges and opportunities in improving direct care worker jobs and workforce development.

]]> IMPART Alliance Buzzsprout-14963156 Fri, 26 Apr 2024 16:00:00 -0400 907 direct care, caregiving, healthcare, interdsciplinary, nursing, training, Michigan, direct care worker 2 full false Dorothy and Eric Paad Dorothy and Eric Paad On today's episode, we are joined by Eric Paad, founder and president of the Caregiver Incentive Project, and Dorothy Paad, an award-winning author, motivational speaker, mentor, and advocate. Dorothy and Eric are a father-daughter duo who have dedicated their lives to improving caregiving for both professionals and those they support.

In Eric’s words, “Our whole mission in life is to improve the lives of those being cared for by supporting the caregiver. When the caregiver is trained, supported, properly cared for, and cherished as a frontline worker, they will do a better job of caring for those in need."

]]> On today's episode, we are joined by Eric Paad, founder and president of the Caregiver Incentive Project, and Dorothy Paad, an award-winning author, motivational speaker, mentor, and advocate. Dorothy and Eric are a father-daughter duo who have dedicated their lives to improving caregiving for both professionals and those they support.

In Eric’s words, “Our whole mission in life is to improve the lives of those being cared for by supporting the caregiver. When the caregiver is trained, supported, properly cared for, and cherished as a frontline worker, they will do a better job of caring for those in need."

]]> IMPART Alliance Buzzsprout-14764653 Mon, 25 Mar 2024 14:00:00 -0400 1936 direct care worker, caregiving, author, non-profit, advocacy, Michigan, Marquette, family caregiving, children's book, inspiration, mentorship 1 full false