Several of the research studies completed as part of the Better Jobs Better Care initiative are yielding important findings concerning what is necessary to improve the jobs of direct care workers.

In an effort to foster better links between researchers and practitioners, the authors of several forthcoming journal articles are sharing their work online via the AcademyHealth Long-Term Care Interest Group forums. The LTC Interest Group is made possible through the support of The Commonwealth Fund.

For the next several days you can access the manuscripts (forthcoming in a special BJBC issue of The Gerontologist) and participate in discussions about applied research on retention specialist programs, cultural competency training, WIN A STEP UP direct care worker education and research linking direct care worker job commitment to resident satisfaction in nursing homes. Please visit the interest group forum and help us all improve the linkages between research and practice.