Webinar Series
The WA Cares team regularly hosts webinars on the program and topics related to long-term care.
WA Cares Conversations webinars feature a panel discussion of an issue in long-term care or caregiving, along with a short overview of how WA Cares works and how it relates to the issue.
WA Cares Basics webinars focus solely on the program, providing details on contributions,
benefits, exemptions and more.
The Employment Security Department (ESD) also hosts employer-focused webinars.
All webinars will be recorded. Recordings and webinar materials will be available below after the completion of the webinar.
Want to keep up-to-date on upcoming webinars? Sign up for email updates. Can’t join live? Recordings are available on the WA Cares YouTube Channel.
Upcoming Webinars
Learn more about what long term care includes, how caregiving responsibilities impact families and the workplace, who contributes to the fund, how exemptions work, how workers will meet contribution requirements (including a pathway for near retirees) and more.
Panelists:
Kristen Maki, WA Cares Fund Community Relations & Outreach Program Manager
2025 Webinar Schedule
| Date | Webinar Topic | Recording Links & Materials |
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January 15, 2025
11:00am - 12:00pm
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WA Cares Basics: What Workers Need to Know
Panelists: Kristen Maki, WA Cares Fund Community Relations & Outreach Program Manager
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2024 Webinar Schedule
| Date | Webinar Topic | Recording Links & Materials |
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January 18, 2024
11:30am - 12:30pm
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WA Cares Basics: What Workers Need to Know
Panelists: Kristen Maki, WA Cares Fund Community Relations & Outreach Program Manager, DSHS, Liz Boot, Leave and Care Customer Care Manager, ESD, Jeff Kendall, Service and Delivery Manager, ESD
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February 1, 2024
12:00pm - 1:00pm
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Premium Collection and Quarterly Reporting - 2024 update
Panelists: Employment Security Department (ESD)
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February 27, 2024
12:00pm - 1:00pm
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WA Cares Conversations: Caregiving in Rural Communities
Panelists: Kristen Maki Community Relations & Outreach Program Manager, WA Cares Fund, Kelly Shaw, Rural Health Workforce Director, Office of Rural Health, Department of Health, Lynn Kimball, Executive Director, Aging and Long-Term Care of Eastern Washington (ALTCEW), Dani Rice, Independent Provider/Caregiver, Julie Gardner, Workforce Development Long-Term Navigator, Department of Social and Health Services
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March 18, 2024
2:00pm - 3:00pm
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WA Cares Conversations: Supporting Workers with Disabilities
Panelists: Kristen Maki, WA Cares Fund Community Relations & Outreach Program Manager, Rebekah Moras, Executive Director, Washington State Independent Living Council (WASILC), Cesilee Coulson, Executive Director, Washington Initiative for Supported Employment (WISE), Kyle Jones, Vocational Rehabilitation Supervisor. |
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April 24, 2024
11:00am - 12:00pm
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WA Cares Basics: What Workers Need to Know
Panelists: Kristen Maki, WA Cares Fund Community Relations & Outreach Program Manager, DSHS, Jeff Kendall, Service and Delivery Manager, ESD
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May 7, 2024
12:00pm - 1:00pm
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WA Cares Conversations: Caregiving for Stroke Survivors
Panelists: Kristen Maki, WA Cares Fund Community Relations & Outreach Program Manager, DSHS, Kelsey Hagstrand, MSN, ARNP-BC, CNS, Comprehensive Stroke Center Nurse Practitioner, Harborview Medical Center | UW Medicine, Sarah Turnbaugh, RN, Nurse Navigator, Harborview Medical Center | UW Medicine, Gurpreet Sandhu, Mph, Heart Disease Stroke Diabetes Prevention Program Manager, Washington State Department of Health, Janice Tadeo, Stroke Survivor. |
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June 5, 2024
2:00pm - 3:00pm
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WA Cares Conversations: Caregiving and Brain Health
Panelists: Kristen Maki, WA Cares Fund Community Relations & Outreach Program Manager, DSHS, Lynne Korte, Dementia Care Program-Policy Manager, HCS, Kristoffer Rhoads, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Neurology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Maria Anakotta, Care Coordinator, Alzheimer’s Association of Washington, Monica Vinson, MS, CCC-SLP, CDP, Mason General Hospital.
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July 17, 2024
11:00am - 12:00pm
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WA Cares Basics: What Businesses Need to Know
Panelists: Kristen Maki, WA Cares Fund Community Relations & Outreach Program Manager, Marley Holbrook, Employer Reporting Specialist, Employment Security Department, Jeff Kendall, Service Delivery Manager, Employment Security Department
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August 6, 2024
12:00pm - 1:00pm
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WA Cares Conversations: Getting Help with Hearing Loss
Panelists: Kristen Maki, WA Cares Fund Community Relations & Outreach Program Manager, DSHS, Berle Ross, Sign Language Interpreter, Contracts and Resources Program Manager, ODHH, Maggie Campbell, Hard of Hearing Consultation and Resources Program Manager, ODHH, Elizabeth Luttrell, Training and Presentation Program Manager, ODHH, Cheri Perazzoli, President, WA State Chapter Hearing Loss Association of America.
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September 12, 2024
12:00pm - 1:00pm
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WA Cares Conversations: Home Safety and Fall Prevention
Panelists: Kristen Maki, WA Cares Fund Community Relations & Outreach Program Manager, John Barnett, AARP Washington State Volunteer Leader for Advocacy and Speakers Bureau, Stephanie Kunold, MS, MA, Older Adult Falls Prevention Specialist, Department of Health, Mary Pat O’Leary, Seattle King County AAA, Marla Emde, Program Coordinator, Strides for Strong Bones
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October 9, 2024
11:00am - 12:00pm
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WA Cares Basics: What Workers Need to Know
Panelists: Kristen Maki, WA Cares Fund Community Relations & Outreach Program Manager
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November 4, 2024
1:00pm - 2:00pm
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WA Cares Conversations: Resources for New Family Caregivers
Panelists: Kristen Maki, WA Cares Fund Community Relations & Outreach Program Manager, Lexie Bartunek, Community Living Connections Program Manager, DSHS, Kelsey Lovik, Dementia Program Specialist, NWRC, Margaret Westervelt, Community Services Supervisor, AAADSW, Dana Allard-Webb, Family Caregiver Support Program Manager, DSHS |
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2023 Webinar Schedule
| Date | Webinar Topic | Recording Links & Materials |
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January 18, 2023
12:00pm - 1:00pm
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WA Cares Basics: What Workers Need to Know
Panelists: Kristen Maki (WA Cares Fund Community Relations & Outreach Program Manager, DSHS) |
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May 4, 2023
12:00pm - 1:00pm
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Chamber Briefing: How to Prepare for WA Cares
Panelists: Rachel Smith (President & CEO, Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce), Ben Veghte (WA Cares Fund Director, DSHS), Alison Eldridge (Transformation Manager, ESD)
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May 18, 2023
12:00pm - 1:00pm
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WA Cares Basics: What Businesses Need to Know
Panelists: Kristen Maki (Community Relations & Outreach Program Manager, DSHS), Alison Eldridge (Transformation Manager, ESD)
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May 25, 2023
11:00am - 12:00pm
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Premium Collection and Quarterly Reporting
Panelists: Employment Security Department staff
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May 31, 2023
11:00am - 12:00pm
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Calculating Premiums, In-Depth
Panelists: Employment Security Department staff
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June 16, 2023
11:00am - 12:00pm
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Greater Spokane Inc. Briefing: How to Prepare for WA Cares
Panelists: Ben Veghte, Director of the WA Cares Fund at DSHS, and Alison Eldridge, Transformation Manager at ESD
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July 20, 2023
11:00am - 12:00pm
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Paid Leave and WA Cares: Employer webinars
Panelists:
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July 27, 2023
11:00am - 12:00pm
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Paid Leave and WA Cares: Employer webinars
Panelists:
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July 31, 2023
2:30pm - 3:30pm
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WA Cares Basics: What Workers Need to Know
Panelists: Andrea Meewes Sanchez, MSW (WA Cares Fund Office Chief, Policy and Planning, DSHS)
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September 21, 2023
11:00am - 12:00pm
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Employer Account Roles and Contact Types
Panelists: Employment Security Department staff
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September 21, 2023
12:00pm - 1:00pm
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[In Spanish] WA Cares Basics: What Workers Need to Know
Panelists: Mayra Flores (Customer Service Specialist, Employment Security Department), Maria Mungarro (Assessment & Eligibility Program Manager, Department of Social and Health Services), Ady Ramos (Team Supervisor, Employment Security Department) |
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September 28, 2023
11:00am - 12:00pm
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Updated Reporting Requirements
Panelists: Employment Security Department staff
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October 31, 2023
1:00pm - 2:00pm
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WA Cares Conversations: Long-Term Care Planning
Panelists: Kristen Maki (WA Cares Fund Community Relations & Outreach Program Manager, DSHS), Anne Moua (HCBS Waiver Program Manager, DSHS), Sharon Daniel (Senior Compliance Analyst, OIC), Mary Mitchell (Director, Aging and Disability Services), Cathy Maccaul (Advocacy Director, AARP Washington)
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November 16, 2023
10:30am - 11:30am
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WA Cares Conversations: Talking With Loved Ones About Long-Term Care
Panelists: Kristen Maki (WA Cares Fund Community Relations & Outreach Program Manager, DSHS) Christina Marneris (Community Services Manager, Area Agency on Aging & Disabilities of Southwest Washington), Lynne Korte (Dementia Care Program-Policy Manager, HCS) |
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November 28, 2023
12:30pm - 1:30pm
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WA Cares Basics: Self Employed Workers
Panelists: Kristen Maki (WA Cares Fund Community Relations & Outreach Program Manager, DSHS) Stephanie Mehan (Leave and Care Employer Reporting Supervisor, ESD) Brent Williams (Leave and Care Employer Reporting Specialist, ESD)
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December 14, 2023
11:00am - 12:00pm
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Managing WA Cares Exemptions
Panelists: Liz Boot, Leave and Care Customer Care Manager, Employment Security Department & Deb Mason, Leave and Care Customer Care Supervisor, Employment Security Department |
2022 Webinar Schedule
| Date | Webinar Topic | Recording Links & Materials |
|---|---|---|
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June 28, 2022
11:00am - 12:00pm
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WA Cares Conversations: Caregiving and the LGBTQ+ Community
Panelists: Hannah Dahlke (Member, LGBTQ+ Seniors of the Inland Northwest), Ruben Rivera-Jackman, (Trainer, National Resource Center on LGBTQ+ Aging), Steven Knipp (Executive Director, GenPride), Janice Emery (Member, NW LGBTQ+ Senior Care Providers Network)
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July 19, 2022
3:30pm - 4:30pm
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WA Cares Conversations: The Gender Gap in Caregiving
Panelists: Jessica Gomez-Barrios (Political and Advocacy Coordinator, Service Employees International Union 775), Maggie Humphreys (Washington State MomsForce Director, Moms Rising), Lunell Haught (President, Washington State League of Women Voters) |
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August 31, 2022
2:00pm - 3:00pm
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WA Cares Conversations: Long-Term Care Planning for Near-Retirees
Panelists: Cathy MacCaul (Advocacy Director, AARP Washington)Laura Cepoi (Executive Director, Olympic Area Agency on Aging), Ben Veghte (Director, WA Cares Fund) |
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October 6, 2022
3:30pm - 4:30pm
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WA Cares Conversations: The Next Generation of Caregivers
Panelists: Susan Engels (Office Chief, State Unit on Aging, DSHS), Christine Morris (Office Chief, Training, Communications and Workforce Development, DSHS), Dani Rice (Caregiver) |
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October 27, 2022
1:00pm - 2:00pm
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WA Cares Conversations: Long-Term Care Planning for Younger Workers
Panelists: Laura Cepoi (Executive Director, Olympic Area Agency on Aging), Ryan Davis (Interim Executive Director, Washington Asset Building Coalition) |
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November 17, 2022
1:00pm - 2:00pm
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WA Cares Conversations: Caregiver Mental Health
Panelists: Daryn Nelsen-Soza (Board Member & Senior Education Manager, NAMI Washington), Dana Allard-Webb (Family Caregiver Support Program Manager, DSHS), Adrienne Cotton (MAC & TSOA Program Manager, DSHS), Lynne Korte (Dementia Care Program Policy Manager, Dementia Action Collaborative) |
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