Thank you for your interest in joining the Direct Care Professional Advisory Council! The team reviewing your application only sees the information you choose to share, and none of the details below will prevent your application from being considered. New Jersey is committed to hearing from workers across the state with diverse experiences and backgrounds.

The purpose of the Direct Care Professional Advisory Council is to bring together direct care workers, including direct support professionals, home health aides, and other professionals who support older adults, people with disabilities, and people in need of mental health support. As a member of this Council, you will have the opportunity to attend quarterly meetings with other Council members, share your experiences as a direct care worker, and make recommendations to the State regarding policies and programs that affect you and your coworkers. We value the important work that you do, and as a member of the Council, you will receive a stipend for your participation.

What Participation Involves
By applying, you agree to the expectations below:
  • Attend quarterly virtual meetings and participate actively
  • Share your experiences and views as a direct care professional. For the purposes of this initiative, the direct care workforce includes individuals employed to provide assistance and support to people who cannot fully care for themselves due to age, illness, disability, or other conditions. Professions considered as direct care include direct support professionals, home health aides, nurse aides, youth development specialists, personal care assistants, peer support providers, and more.
  • Notify staff in advance if you are unable to attend any quarterly meeting (Due to the limited number of meetings, members who miss more than one meeting per year without notice may be asked to step down.)
  • Maintain confidentiality of all Council discussions and materials
  • Serve a 1-year term
  • Receive a stipend per meeting, members will receive a stipend of 50$ per hour (100$ per meeting)
  • Participate using Zoom (phone participation is allowed if needed)
  • Request reasonable accommodations if needed

Continued participation on the Council is subject to meeting established expectations. The State reserves the right to ask a member to step down if expectations are not met or if other circumstances warrant. The Department of Human Services is committed to creating a respectful, accessible space where direct care professionals’ voices help shape statewide decisions.

Deadline:  February 23, 2026
Applicant Information

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* 1. Name:

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* 2. Preferred name (if different):

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* 3. Address

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* 4. Best way to contact you: phone / email / text

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* 5. Phone:

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* 6. Email:

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* 7. Primary language spoken at home:

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* 8. Primary language spoken at work:

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* 9. If your primary language is not English, will you need language assistance to participate in meetings?

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* 10. Accessibility or participation supports needed?  (check all that apply)

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* 11. Race/ethnicity (optional; check all that apply)

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* 12. Gender identity (optional)

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* 13. Level of education:

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* 14. Please list any trainingsor certifications that you hold (ex: home health aide certification, nurse aide certification, NADD Dual Diagnosis training, etc...)

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* 15. Populations you work with or have worked with (Check all that apply)

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* 16. What types of support/tasks do you usually provide in your current role, or have you provided in previous roles?

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* 17. Settings you have worked in or are working in:  (check all that apply)

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* 18. Do you work for an agency/provider, an individual (Self Directed Services), or both?

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* 19. Did you receive any training for your current job?

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* 20. Which, if any, of the following job titles do you feel describe your current role or other direct care roles you have held? (check all the apply)

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* 21. In what county are you currently employed?

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* 22. Are you able to join meetings of the Council via Zoom?

We will do our best to provide support and accommodations where possible. This question helps us plan for participation and is not used to automatically exclude applicants.

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* 23. What times/days would you be able to attend meetings?

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* 24. Are you able to commit to 4-6 meetings of the advisory panel (roughly one per quarter, with additional orientation meetings) this year?

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* 25. How long have you been a direct service professional?

Short Questions

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* 26. What is your favorite part about being a direct care professional?

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* 27. What are some areas of your job that you would like to see improve?

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* 28. What interests you about the Direct Care Professional Advisory Council and why do you want to be a part of the group?

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* 29. What excites you most about participating in this project?

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* 30. Many direct care professionals also have experience supporting a family member or close friend who has received care services. Do you have experience from a consumer or family perspective?

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* 31. What strengths would you bring to the Council?

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I am willing to speak up and share ideas
I listen well and build on others' ideas
I can disagree respectfully
I'm comfortable sharing stories/examples
I have experience working across different sectors
I like problem-solving and suggesting solutions
I can connect individual experiences to broader patterns

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* 32. What additional comments or questions do you have regarding this opportunity?

Public transparency note:  Meeting schedules/agendas and high-level outcomes may be shared publicly; members’ personal stories will not be shared without consent.

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* 33. Signature/attestation:

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