Direct Care Workforce Strategies Center to
host learning collaboratives to share best practices
Key Takeaways
-- 14 states have been selected to participate in the
Direct Care Workforce Strategies Center's new State Peer-Learning
Collaboratives.
-- There is currently a nationwide shortage of direct care
professionals--workers who provide home- and -community-based
services to older adults.
-- Participating states will meet monthly to share
resources and innovative strategies for expanding and retaining
their direct care workforces.
ARLINGTON, Va., May 2, 2024
/PRNewswire/ -- With the U.S. facing a dire shortage of
professionals to provide home- and community-based services (HCBS)
to a rapidly growing population of older adults and people with
disabilities, the Direct Care Workforce Strategies Center, led by
the National Council on Aging (NCOA) on behalf of the
Administration for Community Living (ACL), has chosen 14 states to
participate in State Peer-Learning Collaboratives where they can
share demonstrated models for growing the direct care
workforce.
Between 2021 and 2031, the direct care workforce is projected to
add more than 1 million new jobs, yet nearly 9.3 million total
direct care jobs will need to be filled during that same period,
according to PHI. Low wages, lack of full-time employment, and
the pandemic have caused fewer workers to enter direct care at the
exact time the need for their services is growing.
Funded by the U.S. Administration for Community Living
(ACL), the Direct Care Workforce Strategies Center is addressing
this challenge by providing resources, technical assistance, and
training to state systems, providers, and stakeholders to improve
direct care workforce recruitment, training, and retention.
"Addressing the direct care workforce crisis is national problem
that requires state-based solutions," said Josh Hodges, NCOA Chief Customer Officer.
"Empowering states to share what's working will make it easier to
replicate proven solutions across the country."
Each state in the State Peer-Learning Collaboratives will
participate in working groups to discuss innovative strategies for
growing and enhancing the direct care workforce. The working groups
will hold monthly meetings focused on group learning, information
sharing, and developing best practices. With the help of a subject
matter expert, each participating state also will accomplish one
policy or program-related milestone.
The 14 states participating in the first cohort include:
California, Connecticut, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Nevada, New
Hampshire, Oregon,
Utah, Vermont, and Washington. The first cohort runs through
December 31, 2024.
The Direct Care Workforce Strategies Center also will be
providing Intensive Technical Assistance to six additional
states. Alaska, Colorado, Delaware, Indiana, New
Jersey, and New Mexico each
will receive up to 250 hours of individualized technical
assistance, have a coach, and have access to subject matter experts
to support them in addressing their state's unique direct care
workforce challenges. Each team includes representatives from the
state's Medicaid, aging, disability, and workforce development
agencies, in addition to other stakeholders.
About NCOA
The National Council on Aging (NCOA) is the national voice for
every person's right to age well. We believe that how we age should
not be determined by gender, color, sexuality, income, or ZIP code.
Working with thousands of national and local partners, we provide
resources, tools, best practices, and advocacy to ensure every
person can age with health and financial security. Founded in 1950,
we are the oldest national organization focused on older adults.
Learn more at www.ncoa.org and @NCOAging.
This opportunity is supported by grant DCW 90DNCW0001
from the U.S. Administration for Community Living, U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services. Points of view or opinions
are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent official
ACL policy.
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SOURCE National Council on Aging