In 2025, the Center for Caregiver Advancement (CCA) and SEIU Local 2015 celebrated nearly nine years of partnership with the L.A. Care Health Plan, during which CCA trained nearly 9,000 In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) caregivers in Los Angeles County who serve L.A. Care members. In December 2025 alone, nearly 400 caregivers completed a 10-week program in IHSS Caregiving Essentials, further strengthening the quality of care they provide, their confidence, and communication with consumers and health care teams.
Why Training Caregivers Is Critical
In-home caregivers are essential to the thousands of older adults and those with disabilities who receive long-term care at home to support their health and independence. The role of the home caregiver is vital for ensuring adherence to medical plans and assistance with many tasks of daily living.
Filling Gaps in the Home Care Landscape
CCA’s distinctive partnership with L.A. Care and SEIU Local 2015 provides In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) caregivers with free skills training. Together, we have built a community of caregivers in greater Los Angeles that possess the essential skills and confidence necessary to support L.A. Care members who receive care in their homes.
Research shows that skilled home care workers positively impact the health outcomes of their care recipients, helping to fill gaps in our complex healthcare system. At least one study showed that trained IHSS caregivers kept more people safe at home, with 25% fewer ER visits and 30% fewer hospital readmissions. Additionally, home care from skilled IHSS workers was found to reduce complications of chronic illnesses by 20% and increase consumer satisfaction with their care by 40%.
The IHSS+ Home Care Integration Training Program at CCA
CCA developed the IHSS+ Home Care Integration Training Program (IHSS+) as a comprehensive 10-week training designed to educate and empower caregivers who assist seniors and individuals with disabilities.
Caregivers who are assisting L.A. Care Health Plan members and are also registered as IHSS providers through California’s IHSS program can take CCA’s free online training to enhance their roles as home caregivers. The training provides them with skills that enable them to perform a range of caregiving duties, including roles as Monitor, Communicator, Coach, Navigator, and Care Aide.
Caregiver Training Partnership with L.A. Care Health Plan
At a recent CCA event, L.A. Care’s Chief Medical Officer Sameer Amin, MD, joined a panel of experts discussing caregiver training as a solution for filling care gaps. Dr. Amin emphasized the growing need to enhance caregiver training with information on how to navigate local resources and programs that can benefit their care recipients. He stated that these resources, such as food programs and services for specific health conditions, are not always widely advertised or easy to identify. He said that program partners should share the responsibility of helping caregivers find and navigate these additional resources.
When caregivers are skilled and familiar with local resources, L.A. Care members will receive more consistent and coordinated care.
About L.A. Care Health Plan
L.A. Care Health Plan is the largest health plan in Los Angeles County serving more than one of every four Angelenos. It is also the largest publicly operated plan in the country. L.A. Care offers four health coverage plans, including Medi-Cal, L.A. Care Covered™, L.A. Care Medicare Plus, and the PASC-SEIU Homecare Workers Health Care Plan, all dedicated to being accountable and responsive to members. As a public entity, L.A. Care’s mission is to provide access to quality health care for L.A. County’s low-income communities and to support the safety net required to achieve that purpose. L.A. Care prioritizes quality, access, and inclusion, elevating healthcare for all of L.A. County.
About SEIU Local 2015
SEIU Local 2015 is the largest union in California, representing more than half a million long-term care workers (home care, skilled nursing facility, and assisted living center workers) throughout the state. SEIU Local 2015 is also the largest long-term care union in the U.S. and the largest local union in SEIU.
About the Center for Caregiver Advancement (CCA)
The Center for Caregiver Advancement (CCA) believes in building the workforce of highly trained caregivers that many Californians cannot live without. We are the state’s most experienced provider of free, accessible training that focuses on a supportive, experience-based learning environment. Our impact studies advance policy initiatives to develop career pathway opportunities and build professionalization within long-term care.
