Improving the Direct Care Workforce through Core Competency Training

Abstract

This report provides a comprehensive overview of the MA Personal and Home Care Aide State Training (PHCAST) Grant Project funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, Bureau of Health Professions, Division of Nursing. The grant aimed to improve existing training for home care aides, offer training for personal care attendants, increase transferability of the workforce, and reduce turnover. The state also sought to standardize core competencies and training facilitation for direct care workers who provide long-term care in community‐based settings for diverse populations. The accomplishments of the grant project include successfully training 882 direct care workers, developing, piloting and evaluating a 60-hour, 13-module core competency curriculum, producing nine training videos, training 178 instructors in the adult-centered learning approach and curriculum, creating supplemental training materials and delivery options for bilingual students, and launching a direct care worker website.