Center for Caregiver Advancement
2026 Public Policy Agenda
Caring for California Through Accessible Training and Quality Caregiving Jobs
The Crisis: California faces an urgent care crisis. By 2030, one in five Californians will be 65 or older. Yet the caregiving workforce remains understaffed, undertrained, and underpaid. We must train more caregivers with the skills needed to provide long-term aid and support to our rapidly aging population.
California has over 730,000 In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) providers and nearly 60,000 Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) working in skilled nursing facilities—the majority are immigrant and BIPOC women who deserve professional recognition, quality training, and sustainable careers.
The Solution: Investing in Trained Caregivers
Research proves that trained caregivers deliver better outcomes. CCA-trained caregivers reduce hospital readmissions by 30%, emergency room visits by 25%, and chronic illness complications by 20%.
Quality training doesn’t just improve care. It strengthens the workforce itself.
As fewer family members are available to provide informal care due to smaller family sizes, geographic mobility, and increased workforce participation, California must attract new workers to the field and retain experienced caregivers. Training provides the professional development and recognition that make caregiving a viable, sustainable career rather than temporary work.
Since 2000, CCA has trained more than 35,000 nursing home workers and in-home caregivers through free, accessible training delivered in eight languages.
Our impact is clear: 96% of participants report they learned new skills, 94% report improved communication with those they care for, and trained caregivers demonstrate stronger retention and career commitment.
2026 Policy Priorities
Priority 1: State Funding for IHSS Caregiver Training Pilot
CCA’s partnerships with researchers at UCSF, UCLA, UC Irvine, and MIT’s J-PAL North America demonstrate that caregiver training improves care for older adults and people living with disabilities and strengthens workforce retention. Yet, California has no permanent funding stream to support quality IHSS caregiver training.
California cannot meet its growing care crisis without investment in the workforce that makes all other work possible. Caregiver training is not optional; it is essential infrastructure for our health care system and our state’s future.
Priority 2: Restore Live Online Instruction for CNA Continuing Education
During the COVID-19 pandemic, live online instruction for Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) was permitted and proved effective. Workers were able to maintain their certifications while continuing to provide essential care. That flexibility ended when emergency orders expired.
Accessible continuing education is essential to workforce retention and quality of care. CNAs should not have to choose between keeping their certification and caring for their own families or traveling long distances for training.
CCA Public Policy Contact:
Jana Wright, Director of Policy & Research:
janaw@advancecaregivers.org
Please click this link to view the complete CCA 2026 Policy Agenda as a PDF.
