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The Pennsylvania Homecare Association (PHA) has been awarded the Direct Care Worker Job Quality Grant to implement a Direct Care Worker Mentorship and Training Program.
The grant totals $2.8 million and was awarded by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry. According to a release, the grant is designed to bolster workforce development in the direct care sector across Pennsylvania, but particularly in counties including Carbon, Monroe, York, Dauphin, Cumberland, and Adams.
“We are thrilled to receive the Direct Care Worker Job Quality Grant,” Mia Haney, CEO of the PHA, said in a statement. “We cannot emphasize enough the importance of training and mentorship for the long-term health of our home-based care workforce.
“This initiative helps PHA collaborate with members and partners to improve job quality, enhance career opportunities, and ultimately provide better care for older Pennsylvanians and individuals with disabilities,” added Haney.
The PHA Direct Care Worker Mentorship and Training Program works with local organizations to identify and support new and existing Direct Care Workers seeking employment opportunities or skill advancement. The paid training and mentorship programs equip participants with the skills to excel in positions in home-based care.
The program will combine training and partnerships highlighting PHA’s My Learning Center online education platform, Age-Friendly Care, PA’s 4Ms care framework, and classroom training courses. The courses are conducted in collaboration with CareWide Employment Services, PennCares Support Services, and member agencies of the PHA.
“This grant addresses the most critical need of our home health care membership: workforce availability and enhancement,” said Haney. “By investing in our workforce, we aim to improve the availability of trained and passionate staff who support quality of life and positive patient outcomes. Improvements to direct care worker job quality are improvements in the health of the Pennsylvanians they serve.”
