The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced on April 25, 2024, that 20 states have been selected to participate in two technical assistance programs that will help to improve recruitment, training, and retention of direct care workers who provide home and community-based services (HCBS) for older adults and people with disabilities. The technical assistance programs will help with the collaboration across state agencies, direct care professionals, people receiving services, and accelerate progress according to Alison Barkoff, the Principal Deputy Administrator of the Administration for Community Living (ACL). This initiative is a part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Care Workers Recognition Month activities and in support of President Biden’s Executive Order on Increasing Access to High-Quality Care and Supporting Caregivers. Both technical assistance programs are offered through the ACL’s Direct Care Workforce (DCW) Strategies Center.
ADvancing States, the National Association of Medicaid Directors (NAMD), and the National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services (NASDDDS) are in support of the DCW Strategies Center enhanced technical assistance programs.
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) and HHS’ Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation released recommendations for building data infrastructure to support the development of policies and initiatives to strengthen HCBS direct care workforce. The joint report addresses gaps in data surrounding the HCBS workforce.
The DCW Strategies Center has selected the following six states to participate in the first technical assistance program:
- Alaska
- Colorado
- Delaware
- Indiana
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
The first program provides up to 250 hours of individualized technical assistance, a coach, and access to subject matter experts in addressing each state’s specific DCW needs. A synopsis of each state’s areas of focus can be found here.
The other fourteen states are provided an opportunity to participate in a second program that offers learning collaboratives focused on sharing best practices, innovative strategies, and proven models for growing the direct care workforce. Each state will receive up to 70 hours of individualized technical assistance on a subject important to the state.