Carrie Leljedal Email & Phone Number

Remote

• Host bi-weekly steering committee meetings via Zoom.• Oversee and organize the Einstein Option working team.• Plan and schedule meetings with advocates, legislators, and long-term care providers.• Assist in designing infographics and literature.• Attend national conferences for networking and relationship building.• Collaborate with cross-functional teams for coordination.• Establish and manage an intern program for data collection.

Illinois, United States

Building and maintaining an online grassroots state group to educate, raise awareness, and advocate for residents in long-term care; 900+ membersAssisted with drafting State and Federal legislation to restore long-term care resident rights that had been restricted due to the pandemic Assisted State Senator Jil Tracy with the creation and writing of the Illinois Essential Support Persons Act SB2322. Effective June,30,2023 The Essential Support Persons Act is a law in IllinoisEducate and develop advocacy strategies on both State and Federal levels for resident rights in long-term care facilities, specific to the COVID-19 pandemic visitor restrictionsDeveloped campaigns: “How to File a Civil Rights Complaint with the OCR”, “How to Get a Compassionate Caregiver or Essential Caregivers Designation”Educate and assist families in acquiring compassionate care and essential care visits with their loved ones, including acting as a liaison between residents, families, Illinois Department of Public Health, Ombudsman, and facilities Script and host monthly live educational Zoom meetings on the latest long-term care facility guidance from the Illinois Dept. of Public Health and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Research, propose, and assist the Illinois State Ombudsman Program in the creation and implementation of the state-wide Resident and Family Virtual Council Secure and attend meetings with IDPH, IDHS, and Illinois legislature to educate and advocate on current issues residents have and are dealing with during the pandemic Testified at the Illinois House Joint Subject Matter Hearing: “State of Long-Term Care and COVID”Research, obtain interviews, and maintain relationships with journalists to promote awareness around resident rights; profiled in media stories at both a State and National Level Completed State of Illinois level 1 & 2 Ombudsman training for educational purposes

As the co-creator of the national #LTCVOTE campaign, I worked with advocacy organizations across the U.S. to promote and protect the voting rights of residents in long-term care, including disabled adults and elders. Through a grassroots, online approach, we educated residents and caregivers about the right to vote, empowering individuals to participate in civic life.Highlights of my work include:Leading efforts to advocate for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to update their QSO on voting rights, with support from advocacy groups nationwide.Creating engaging graphics and educational content for social media that amplified the message across platforms.Conducting interviews and podcasts to increase public awareness and underscore the importance of voting access in long-term care settings.My work on this campaign reflects a deep commitment to equitable voting rights and a passion for ensuring that all citizens have the resources and support to make their voices heard.

Mascoutah, Illinois, United States

Organized and executed a variety of fundraising events i.e., Food Truck/ Vendor Event, Vacation Raffle, and Bags Tournament, Dinner Dances, Guest Speakers Developed outreach to local community and religious organizations to educate members about the LCC’s mission to build community support and involvement Researched fundraising opportunities with charitable trusts, local and national businesses. Composed grant applications Sourced donations for support of ongoing programs and programs under development Planned and implemented a Tiny Tot’s and friends play group using the awarded grants from the St. Louis CardinalsPlanned and implemented a youth Street Hockey Program working with and using awarded grants from the St. Louis Blues Hockey Provided individualized assistance and education for families needing assistance finding local resources and services available to meet needsEducated families on advocating for their special needs children Organized community collections to provide aid to families in needMaintained records on fundraising activities, donors, and fund sources Recruited, organized, and trained volunteers