Formation of Advisory Council comes from Comprehensive Direct Care Workforce Strategic Plan

May 20, 2026

(TRENTON) – Human Services Commissioner Stephen Cha today announced the launch of the Direct Care Professional Advisory Council.

The Advisory Council stems from the State’s Direct Care Workforce Strategic Plan, which is a comprehensive roadmap to support, grow, and stabilize the workforce that provides essential care to older adults, individuals with disabilities, and residents with behavioral health needs. Over the next year, the Advisory Council will convene to provide its feedback on state programs and policies related to strengthening New Jersey’s direct care workforce.

“I was pleased to hear directly from direct care workers during our first meeting as we begin this important process,” said Commissioner Cha. “Direct care workers make independence possible for hundreds of thousands of New Jerseyans, and their work is fundamental to the health, safety, and dignity of the people we serve. We look forward to the valuable insights and collaborative efforts that will emerge from this Advisory Council.”

“Direct care professionals do complex, deeply human work that is both essential and challenging, and they bring a frontline perspective that is invaluable,” said Deputy Commissioner for Aging and Disability Services Kaylee McGuire. “This Advisory Council ensures that workers’ voices keep policy decisions grounded in reality and strengthen efforts to improve job quality and stability across New Jersey’s direct care workforce.”

Direct care workers, including direct support professionals, personal care aides, self-directed employees, home health aides, certified nursing assistants, youth development specialists, and certified peer recovery specialists, provide essential support and respite for individuals with developmental disabilities, aging individuals, and people with substance use disorder and/or behavioral health challenges, as well as their families and caregivers.

“For individuals living with substance use disorder and/or mental health disorders, direct care workers provide a wide range of support that fosters long-lasting recovery. Mental health is a fundamental element for overall health and contributes to our quality of life and well-being,” said Deputy Commissioner for Health Services Valerie Mielke.
The Advisory Council will be guided by the Department of Human Services in collaboration with the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, and Rowan University’s Early Childhood Leadership Institute.

“Direct care workers act as the backbone of long-term care for older adults. When workers are heard, valued, and empowered, older adults can receive the consistent, dignified care they deserve,” said Division of Aging Services Assistant Commissioner Louise Rush.

This effort aligns with Human Services’ commitment to engaging people with lived experience to help serve people in the best way possible. For instance, last year, Human Services’ Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services launched a new Beneficiary Advisory Council (BAC), which is made up of current and former New Jersey FamilyCare members, their family members, and caregivers. The BAC serves as a trusted space for NJ FamilyCare beneficiaries to share feedback and inform policy and program administration.

To support this work, Human Services convenes an interagency planning group in advance of each Advisory Council meeting. This group includes representatives from the departments of Labor and Workforce Development, Children and Families, Education, the Office of the Attorney General’s Division of Consumer Affairs, and the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education.

“Direct care workers do skilled, deeply personal work that requires trust, compassion, and dedication—they deserve training, fair wages, and job protections that honor that commitment,” said Acting Commissioner Kevin Jarvis of the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. “This Advisory Council puts frontline voices at the center of the conversation, at the same table as state agencies and educational partners. When we listen to the people doing the work every day, we build real career pathways and quality jobs that strengthen our workforce and New Jersey families who depend on them.”

The interagency planning group collaborates to develop comprehensive and aligned agenda topics that advance the goals of the State’s strategic plan for the direct care workforce. In addition to elevating priorities identified by Advisory Council members, the group also brings forward strategies, initiatives, and policy questions where agency partners seek the Advisory Council’s insight. Members of the planning group are also invited to attend Advisory Council meetings, during which they can join discussions and present on topics about which the Advisory Council members have expressed interest in learning more.

The Advisory Council held its first meeting on Wednesday, May 13, 2026.

Members of the Direct Care Professional Advisory Council are: direct support professionals Ruth Arnaud, Jahmani Dean-Bailey, Urshala Herald, and Romy Pizarro; certified homemaker-home health aide and direct support professional Angeline Desamour; certified homemaker-home health aide and certified nurse assistant Joyce Henry; certified homemaker-home health aide, direct support professional and youth development specialist Konah Mabande; certified homemaker-home health aide, direct support professional, and personal care assistant Orrie Schulman; direct support professional and support coordinator Jamillah Joseph; direct care worker Jeremy Glass; and certified peer recovery specialist Michelle Price.

“Supporting direct care workers is essential in ensuring New Jerseyans can live and age with dignity, stability, and choice,” said Assistant Commissioner of the Division of Developmental Disabilities Jonathan Seifried. “Advisory councils like this one are crucial, providing platforms for workers to advocate for recognition and improved conditions. We look forward to working with our fellow agencies to facilitate progress.”

Read the full New Jersey Direct Care Workforce Strategic Plan, here.