Workforce Development
Department of Veterans Affairs to Offer Free Remote Patient Monitoring Certificate Program
June 10, 2024A Remote Patient Monitoring Certificate Program, developed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the University of Florida College of Nursing, will be a free initiative designed to provide…
As we’re quickly learning, AI can automate tasks and improve job efficiency, requiring workers to learn new skills. However, it also poses risks like reduced autonomy, embedded bias, and job…
The Pennsylvania Homecare Association (PHA) recently received the Direct Care Worker Job Quality Grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry. This grant will fund the new Direct Care Worker Mentorship…
According to research, 97% of employees have career-limiting habits that keep them from achieving their full potential at work. Those habits may be wholly unconscious, developed over decades. The key…
FTC Issues Rule Banning Noncompetes
April 29, 2024Last Tuesday, April 23, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued a final rule banning noncompetes nationwide purporting that this effort protects the fundamental freedom of workers to change jobs, increases innovation, and…
Amidst Caregiving Crisis, Casey, Kaine, Baldwin Introduce Bill to Revitalize Nation’s Long-Term Care Workforce
April 22, 2024Despite greater need for caregiving than ever before, care workers across the Nation are overworked and underpaid, resulting in a severe workforce shortage. U.S. Senators Bob Casey, Tim Kaine, and Tammy…
A new resource aims to boost the participation of people with disabilities in competitive integrated employment. Competitive integrated employment ensures that people with disabilities are paid competitive wages and work…
Aimed at bolstering support for caregivers of veterans, both the VA Caregiver Support Program (CSP) and Building Better Caregivers ®(BBC) have announced meaningful updates. These initiatives underscore the commitment to enhancing support networks and…
Guest Column: Why Employee Benefits Matter
February 19, 2024As most company leaders and workers can attest, employee benefits play a critical role in the long-term success for businesses of all sizes. A comprehensive and well put together compensation…
Governor Supports Workforce; Calls for PAS Rate Study
February 5, 2024On Friday February 9, 2024, the Department of Human Services held a stakeholder presentation led by Secretary Valerie Arkoosh regarding the Governor’s recent budget which included an important call to…
The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has partnered with the National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services (NASDDDS) and the Human Services Research Institute (HSRI) to administer the…
Penncares is piloting a new hands-on training program for caregivers. If you are a caregiver or an agency admin member who would be interested in volunteering to come out and…
L&I Announces Availability of $2.8 Million To Improve Job Quality for Direct Care Workers
January 15, 2024The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) announced $2.8 million in reemployment funds as part of the Direct Care Worker Job Quality (DCWJQ) Grant. This competitive grant opportunity will be…
Best Practice: Managing Staff Bereavement
January 15, 2024An important way in which hospice agencies can consider supporting staff is scheduling a 1:1 session with a bereavement counselor about 6 months into their employment, or more frequently thereafter….
UPDATE: Changes to the Interstate Nurse Licensure Compact
December 4, 2023The Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) issued an important update to the multistate licensure (MSL) requirements regarding home care and hospice effective November 30, 2023. The Department will no longer require…
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) recently published sample employment agreements for domestic workers, including direct care workers, as part of its ongoing efforts to increase visibility of employee rights and…
National Labor Board Issues Final Rule on Joint-Employer Status
November 13, 2023On October 26, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) issued its final rule to establish a new standard for determining when two entities may be considered joint employers for purposes…
PHI Releases New Annual Report on the U.S. Direct Care Workforce
September 25, 2023PHI’s report, Direct Care Workers in the United States: Key Facts,provides a new annual snapshot of the direct care workforce, including demographics, occupational roles, job quality challenges, and projected job openings….
Homecare Agencies Reestablished as an Approved Provider for CNA Renewals
September 18, 2023On Friday, PHA was contacted by the Dept. of Health to confirm that non-medical homecare agencies are approved providers for the purpose of CNA recertifications. In August, PHA was notified…
U.S. Department of Labor Proposes Expanded Overtime Rule
September 11, 2023On August 30, 2023, the U.S. Department of Labor announced a proposal to Define and Delimit the Exemptions for Executive, Administrative, Professional, Outside Sales, and Computer Employees that would restore and extend…
Secretary of State Al Schmidt announced last Tuesday that Pennsylvania is taking the first step to implement the Nurse Licensure Compact by allowing nurses with multistate licenses issued by 40…
Impacts of Social Isolation Addressed in New Surgeon General Advisory
September 11, 2023The U.S. Surgeon General has issued an advisory report calling attention to the public health crisis of loneliness, isolation, and lack of connection in our country. The advisory titled, Our Epidemic…