Become a Certified Caregiving Advocate
Launch Your Movement for Change in Just 2 Hours
You've experienced caregiving firsthand. You know the gaps in support. Now imagine using that lived experience to create meaningful change for others. Our Certified Caregiving Advocate program arms you with the frameworks, strategies, and confidence to build your own movement.
You'll enroll through our community, Caring Our Way, and join others dedicated to improving the caregiving experience.
What You'll Learn
In this on-demand, two-hour training with Denise M. Brown, founder of The Caregiving Years Training Academy
Determine Your Mission
Clarify what drives you and the specific impact you want to create in the caregiving community. Learn how to articulate your unique perspective and goals.
Find Your Focus
Identify your target audience and the specific caregiving challenges you want to address. Develop a clear understanding of where you can make the greatest difference.
Set Your Course
Create a strategic plan for launching your advocacy work. Learn proven frameworks based on 30+ years of experience building caregiving movements.
The Movement Framework
Every advocacy movement follows the same arc. In this training, you'll work through each stage — leaving with a plan that's ready to act on, not just think about.
Plus, You'll Discover:
- How Denise launched her first caregiving movement in 1995—and what she learned that you can apply today
- The milestones that matter: publications, podcasts, websites, and conferences that made an impact
- Practical strategies to organize your thoughts and launch with confidence
- Access to a community of fellow advocates for ongoing inspiration and support
What Graduates Say
Real Movements. Real Impact.
Denise doesn't just teach advocacy — she's built movements herself. Here's what that looks like in practice.
Petitioning the CDC to Track Family Caregiver Stress
Believing that family caregiver stress is an overlooked epidemic, Denise formally petitioned the Centers for Disease Control to begin tracking it as a public health issue. She backed the campaign with her own stress survey data and a blog post series, making the case through real-life examples and consistent public messaging, turning a personal conviction into a documented, evidence-based call for change. When the CDC didn't act, she decided to track caregiving stress herself — collecting a compelling dataset that offers real insights into the sources of caregiving stress. See the research →
Taking the Caregiving Listener Project to the NASDAQ Billboard
Denise founded The Caregiving Listener Project to connect family caregivers with volunteer listeners. The project grew from a simple belief — that every family caregiver deserves to be heard — into a nationally recognized initiative that earned a thank-you from NASDAQ on its Times Square billboard. The path: a clear mission, persistent community-building, and an open invitation for others to join.
Advocating for Family Caregiver Reimbursement in The Wall Street Journal
After receiving a writing request about paying family caregivers, Denise developed a full "Getting Paid for Providing Care" framework — consulting financial planners and lawyers, hosting free monthly sessions for family caregivers, and connecting reporters with family caregiver sources. Her advocacy led to a Wall Street Journal article published in September 2022 that brought the issue to a national audience.
Creating the First National Caregiving Conference Featuring Caregivers as Presenters
Denise has long believed that family caregivers are experts — not just recipients of support, but credible voices who deserve a platform. In 2016, she put that belief into action by launching the first national caregiving conference where family caregivers themselves took the stage as presenters. The mission began with blog communities and podcast invitations and grew into a precedent-setting event in the field.
From Lived Experience to Movement Builder
Denise M. Brown brings 30+ years of professional expertise and 35 years of personal caregiving experience to this training. Since 1995, she's pioneered the family caregiving field by creating:
- One of the first publications to feature family caregiver stories (1995)
- One of the first radio shows to feature family caregiver stories (1999)
- One of the first podcasts featuring caregiver stories (2008)
- One of the first websites featuring caregivers as bloggers (2009)
- The first national caregiving conference featuring caregiver presentations (2016)
Her work has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, USA Today, and Time magazine. Now she's ready to help you launch your own movement.
Program Investment
Complete, on-demand training you can access anytime
Earn 2 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) if you're a healthcare professional
Earn CEUs for Your Profession
We've been approved to provide 2 continuing education hours for healthcare professionals nationwide. Check if your profession qualifies:
Nationwide Approval
Certified Dementia Practitioners®, Certified Senior Advisors®, Nurses, Professional Coaches, Social Workers
Illinois Professions
Counselors, Dental Hygienists, Dietitians, Marriage & Family Counselors, and more
Other States
Many additional professions qualify. Check with our CEU provider or contact us at denise@careyearsacademy.com
Check to see if your profession can receive CEUs by visiting our CEU provider's website. Scroll down the page to see the map.
Continuing education hours provided by Continuing Education Institute of Illinois
After You Complete the Training
Official Certificate
Display your achievement and build credibility in your advocacy work with your Certified Caregiving Advocate certificate.
Professional Logo
Use our exclusive CCA logo to promote your certified status across your website, social media, and marketing materials.
Community Access
Join a network of fellow advocates for ongoing inspiration, collaboration, and support in building your movement.
Bonus: $50 Discount
- Receive a $50 coupon toward any of our Caregiving Facilitator, Guide, or Specialist training programs
- Deepen your expertise and expand your impact with advanced certifications
- Build a comprehensive skill set for sustained caregiving advocacy
Ready to Launch Your Movement?
Join advocates who are transforming the caregiving experience. Enroll in the Certified Caregiving Advocate training today and start your journey.
Enroll Now - $47You'll enroll through our community, Caring Our Way, and join others dedicated to improving the caregiving experience.
Have questions? Contact Denise
