2023 was a year of remarkable growth for our organization and for advancing caregivers. The state extended the Career Pathways Program and funded the CNA Registered Apprenticeship Program. This continued investment in specialized caregiver training shows recognition of the value of training the long-term care workforce. All of these align with our commitment to advancing the professionalization of long-term care work.
As we look ahead to 2024, we remain committed to setting the standard for caregiver training. We are building a workforce of highly trained caregivers that many Californians can’t live without.
2023 Highlights for Advancing Caregivers
Language equity: We continue to address the need for equitable access to training by providing our programs in multiple languages. We increased our language offerings to eight: English, Spanish, Armenian, Korean, Mandarin, Cantonese, Russian and Vietnamese. This ensures training and continuing education courses are accessible for IHSS workers who are most comfortable learning in a language other than English.
Nationally recognized curriculum: Our training programs are evidence-based. We refine them using worker feedback, and data from impact studies. Our specialized curriculum has been licensed by organizations outside California, which utilize our experience and expertise. The CCA curriculum supports training funds and union workers across the country.
Advancing Caregivers Through Specialized Training
Condition-specific training: We offer condition-specific training courses to equip caregivers with the skills and knowledge they need to provide specialized care. IHSS providers can enroll in courses that teach them essential skills, basic health and safety. They also can access courses in emergency preparedness, Alzheimer’s and related dementia, autism, diabetes, heart disease, and traumatic brain injury.
SNF industry solutions: Since launching the CNA Registered Apprenticeship Program this year, we have trained and placed Certified Nurse Assistants at skilled nursing facilities across the state. We also run our own CDPH-approved NATP as a hybrid offering to alleviate some of the barriers workers face. We help with demanding schedules and transportation needs.
Climate-resilient workforce: We released an Impact Report and hosted an Impact Study Briefing about the outcomes of our Caregiver Resiliency Teams project. This underscored the importance of investing in caregiver workforce training to build a climate-resilient California. cca.fyi/crtimpact
Stipends for specialized skills: Providing stipends to students in our training programs is part of our long-term goal to link skills to increased wages for caregivers:
- IHSS providers: Paid the their hourly wage rate for their hours in training
- CNA Registered Apprenticeship Program participants: Receive stipends for child care, transportation, and grocery expenses.
Looking Ahead: How We Will Be Advancing Caregivers in 2024
Groundbreaking research: We are partnering with the renowned J-PAL North America at MIT, which will conduct a randomized control trial on our IHSS Essentials training program in San Bernardino County. This will be the first RCT in the nation on IHSS training. The RCT, along with the impact study from UC San Francisco on the ADRD training, will lay the foundation for policy change. These will help recognize worker specializations, improve worker retention, create advancement within the home care workforce, and secure long-term funding for caregiver training.
Upskilling the IHSS workforce: We will deliver IHSS Essentials, Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementia care, and Caregiver Resiliency training to IHSS providers in San Bernardino County. This program addresses the need for highly trained caregivers in under-invested communities. Access to specialized Alzheimer’s training is especially important to support the caregivers caring for those with ADRD in San Bernardino. Given the extreme heat the region experienced in 2023, the Caregiver Resiliency training will give IHSS providers an increased understanding of climate change impact. They will learn the skills they need to address climate-related emergencies.
Training for unpaid family caregivers: We are excited to provide Alzheimer’s and dementia care training for unpaid family caregivers in the Inland Empire. This project is in partnership with CDPH and UC Irvine, which will research the impact and value of the training program. Classes begin in February.
Research Studies Show Positive Impact of Training
Impact studies: We continue to measure the impact of our training programs through knowledge checks and pre- and post-training surveys. We have relationships with academic institutions and research organizations such as UC San Francisco and UC Irvine. Their research helps us demonstrate how our training programs advance quality care, improve job retention, and reframe the value of care work.
Elevating care: We are in the seventh year of our partnership with L.A. Care Health Plan. We continue to elevate the quality of care the health plan’s members receive from their IHSS providers. L.A. Care’s utilization studies of the training impacts have consistently shown a decrease in emergency department visits. They also show a reduction in inpatient utilization among members whose caregivers completed our training.
