Fourteen states have been selected to participate in a program through which they can share information about proven models for expanding the direct care workforce.
The states that will participate in the State Peer-Learning Collaboratives were chosen by the Direct Care Workforce Strategies Center, led by the National Council on Aging on behalf of the Administration for Community Living. They include California, Connecticut, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, Oregon, Utah, Vermont and Washington.
The first cohort runs through Dec. 31.
The center is funded by the ACL, which is part of the US Department of Health and Human Services. It provides resources, technical assistance and training to state systems, providers and stakeholders to improve direct care workforce recruitment, training and retention.
“Empowering states to share what’s working will make it easier to replicate proven solutions across the country,” NCOA Chief Customer Officer Josh Hodges said.
Each participating state will take part in working groups to discuss strategies for increasing and enhancing the direct care workforce.
“The working groups will hold monthly meetings focused on group learning, information-sharing and developing best practices,” the NCOA said. “With the help of a subject matter expert, each participating state will also accomplish one policy or program-related milestone.”
The Direct Care Workforce Strategies Center will also provide intensive technical assistance to six additional states: Alaska, Colorado, Delaware, Indiana, New Jersey and New Mexico.
Each of the six states 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 direct care workforce challenges. Each team includes representatives from the state’s Medicaid, aging, disability and workforce development agencies, as well as additional other stakeholders.
