CHCS Details Direct Care Workforce Strategies From Three States
In a blog post, the Center for Health Care Strategies (CHCS) highlights workforce strategies from California, Nevada, and Vermont, developed through the national Direct Care Workforce Strategies Center led by the National Council on Aging with funding from the Administration for Community Living. CHCS served as a technical assistance partner helping state teams improve recruitment, retention, training, and professional development for direct care workers who serve older adults and people with disabilities. The post describes California's development of a specialized training curriculum for direct support professionals addressing aging-related needs of people with intellectual/developmental disabilities, to be housed in the state's EDGE online learning system. It also references other states' approaches, including non-wage benefits such as bonuses in Colorado, health stipends in Minnesota, and childcare assistance in New Mexico, noting that wage increases are tied to Medicaid reimbursement rates and state budgets.