training

Like many states, Michigan is facing a looming workforce shortage as their aging population grows. This policy brief from the Michigan Aging & Adult Services Agency highlights the challenges and opportunities in addressing the state's direct care workforce (DCW) issues. Challenges that have led to this shortage include low wage levels, lack of affordable comprehensive training, and low job appreciation and respect. This paper identifies various strategies for overcoming these issues.

A project of ADvancing States and NCIL, this report shares information on a range of issues – including services and referrals, technology and social media, partnerships and systems, quality assurance, training and certification, and sustainability – from the perspectives of I&R/A professionals in state agencies on aging and disability, Area Agencies on Aging, Centers for Independent Living, Aging and Disability Resource Centers, No Wrong Door systems, and other non-profit human service organizations.

This recently released white paper explains the barriers to employment faced by people with disabilities and highlights areas where governors can help people with disabilities overcome the challenges they may face in seeking employment. The strategies in this paper were developed following a learning lab meeting with states to discuss ways to take advantage of pools of untapped talent and ensure that workforce development and hiring policies are inclusive of people with disabilities.

The Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) is a $400 million federal workforce investment program projected to serve over 67,000 low-income unemployed older adults in program year (PY) 2017. This is the only federally funded program to target older individuals who want to enter or reenter the workforce. The fiscal year (FY) 2018 budget eliminates all funding for SCSEP. This white paper examines the evidence on the value of SCSEP and discusses the potential effects of cutting it.

The National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability published "Designing Statewide Career Development Strategies & Programs," a guide to help states assist youth and youth with disabilities prepare for employment and college. This is a two-part guide which includes a primer for youth career development and an implementation guide with promising practices from successful programs for states to model.

Justice in Aging, in collaboration with the Alzheimer's Association, released a new survey of dementia training requirements in each state. The number of Alzheimer's and other dementia diagnoses is on the rise, but there is often little to no training for staff and professionals that work with these populations. This survey was conducted to identify the holes in state law and to find promising practices to inform improvements in the future. The findings are available in a five-paper series.

Adult day services (ADS)--a non-residential service provided outside an individual's home for less than a full day--provides direct care to older adults and younger adults with physical disabilities. This report provides information about each state's approach to regulating this key community service. The report details different models, forms of regulation, and funding sources used by states to run ADS programs.