Dear Friend, For you to be reading my Foreword and Acknowledgements, this means to me you are actively searching for ways to become a better prepared, better informed caregiver. Whether you are seeking greater skills as a paid homecare aide, or as a concerned family caregiver, you are to be commended for your efforts to be the best caregiver you can be. It is my goal to support your efforts within the realm of non-medical, in-home care giving (i.e. homemaking, meal preparation, personal care, respite care, and more) and to provide you with relevant classes which are easy to access, quality in content, and affordable. Additionally, there are helpful tips for care giving, animations in personal care, and chat rooms and bulletin boards to communicate either with your peers, or other family caregivers who would enjoy mutual support. With the growth anticipated in aging and disabled populations, the need for care giving in all its forms is going to grow. We must all be prepared to provide care giving which is both quality in nature and appropriate. In 1995, the California Association for Health Services at Home, recommended A Model Curriculum as an appropriate curriculum for non-medical home care aides in their Start-up Packet for the Home Care Aide Organization (June 2000). Therefore, A Model Curriculum, by the National Association for Homecare and Hospice used with their permission (© 2000) for our content, is a highly regarded training program for the non-medical, in-home caregiver. Gratefully, I wish to acknowledge and thank the following persons and institutions who have made the Online Learning Academy Possible: • Aging and Independence Services, San Diego, California is the program sponsor and funding source. • National Association for Homecare and Hospice, Washington, D.C., provided the use of their A Model Curriculum. • Lisa Marie Designs (www.LisaRoberts.com) provided the project management and design. • David Scott Jeffrey, Development Specialist, At Your Home Familycare, San Diego, California, provided his expertise in both teaching of homecare aides and care giving. • Dona Lanzetta, R.N., San Diego, California, who is a consultant with extensive clinical and teaching experience in the healthcare industry. And, finally, to all of you who are CAREGIVERS and are on the front lines of caring for those who are truly the most vulnerable! In the Spirit of Service, Laurie Edwards-Tate, M.S. President and Founder At Your Home Familycare & Online Learning Academy www.AtYourHomeFamilycare.com/