In-Home Caregivers
In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) is a statewide program administered by each county under the direction of the California Department of Social Services to help pay for caregiver services for low-income elderly, blind, or disabled individuals so that they can remain safely in their own homes. Across California, over 665,000 low-income older adults and people with disabilities receive care from approximately 570,000 IHSS caregivers.
The Center for Caregiver Advancement has answered the call to provide quality training for California’s diverse IHSS workforce. Our training is offered in six languages and is designed specifically for adult learners with varying levels of education. The result is a caregiver training program proven to enhance care and reduce emergency department visits and inpatient stays while reducing caregiver isolation, loneliness, and depression.
In recent years, CCA expanded partnerships with leading health plans in the state, including Blue Shield of California Promise, Health Net, and L.A. Care to reach even more IHSS caregivers and the people they serve. We’ve worked with UCLA’S Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program to develop a competency-based training program for caregivers who provide care for persons with Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementia. Our partnership with UCSF and Alameda Alliance Health has expanded our Alzheimer’s work to Alameda County. CCA has also contributed to the body of research on the impact of training IHSS workers, including articles in peer-reviewed journals.
Nursing Home Workers
The Education Fund was formed in 2009 as a joint labor-management partnership between SEIU Local 2015 and skilled nursing facility (SNF) employers to provide training opportunities for qualifying SNF workers. CCA staff carries out the work of the Education Fund.
The Education Fund offers a range of education services and opportunities to its bargaining unit members, including skill-building courses, continuing education units, individual case management, skills assessments, certificate programs, recertification programs, and more. All educational offerings and support services are designed to meet the employment and training needs of both facilities and workers across a range of educational levels and career paths.
The Education Fund continues to expand its course offerings and offer easier access, including self-pacing and anytime/anywhere mobile courses. With recent legislation requiring increased hours of direct patient care each day from Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs), the Education Fund launched a CNA Registered Apprenticeship program to help skilled nursing facilities address staffing shortages and workplace retention.