Pennsylvania Homecare Association Awarded Direct Care Worker Job Quality Grant to Enhance Workforce Development

The Pennsylvania Homecare Association (PHA) is proud to announce that it has been awarded the Direct Care Worker Job Quality Grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) to implement a Direct Care Worker Mentorship and Training Program. This initiative aims to bolster workforce development in the direct care sector across Pennsylvania, but particularly in Lackawanna, Luzerne, Wayne, Pike, Susquehanna, Carbon, Monroe, Wyoming, York, Dauphin, Union, Perry, Cumberland, and Adams counties.

The PHA Direct Care Worker Mentorship and Training Program will collaborate with local organizations to identify and support new and existing Direct Care Workers (DCWs) seeking employment opportunities or skill advancement. Through these paid training and mentorship programs, participants will be equipped with the necessary skills to excel in positions in home based care.

“We are thrilled to receive the Direct Care Worker Job Quality Grant. We cannot underscore enough the importance of training and mentorship for the long term health of our home-based care workforce,” said Mia Haney, CEO of the Pennsylvania Homecare Association. “This initiative helps PHA collaborate with members and partners to improve job quality, enhance career opportunities, and ultimately provide better care for older Pennsylvanians and individuals with disabilities.”

The program will combine various trainings and partnerships to culminate a clear, concise and accessible career toolkit, highlighting PHA’s My Learning Center online education platform, Age-Friendly Care, PA’s 4Ms care framework, and classroom training courses conducted in collaboration with CareWide Employment Services, PennCares Support Services, and member agencies of the Pennsylvania Homecare Association.

“This grant addresses the most critical need of our home health care membership: workforce availability and enhancement,” added Haney. “By investing in our workforce, we aim to improve the availability of trained and passionate staff who support quality of life and positive patient outcomes. Improvements to direct care worker job quality are improvements in the health of the Pennsylvanians they serve.”

Governor Josh Shapiro’s administration has focused on initiatives to improve job quality for direct care workers across the state. Through this grant —totaling $2.8M — and other efforts, the administration aims to address workforce challenges and enhance the quality of life for all Pennsylvanians.

PHA would like to congratulate fellow Direct Care Worker Job Quality Grant recipients: Bucks County Workforce Development Board, Family Caregivers Network, Pennsylvania State University, Work Well, The Foundation of the Lancaster Chamber, CareWide Employment Services, PA Frontline Healthcare Training, Inc., and The SEIU HCPA Training and Education Fund.

For more information about the PHA Direct Care Worker Mentorship and Training Program, please contact the Pennsylvania Homecare Association at [email protected].

About PHA: The Pennsylvania Homecare Association is a statewide membership organization of more than 700 homecare, home health, and hospice providers. PHA members provide quality care and serve as advocates for their patients and clients on a variety of healthcare-related issues. PHA and its members work to improve professional standards and ensure access to quality home care throughout the Commonwealth. For more information about PHA and its initiatives, visit http://www.pahomecare.org.