Washington among 14 states selected to participate in nationwide Peer-Learning Collaboratives
In the midst of a nationwide shortage of direct care professionals, people who provide home- and community-based services to older adults, Washington is proud to be one of 14 states to participate in State Peer-Learning Collaboratives. States were selected to take part by the Direct Care Workforce Strategies Center, led by the National Council on Aging. Participating states will host learning collaboratives to share best practices for growing the direct care workforce.
Reasons for the caregiver shortage include low wages and lack of full-time employment. The COVID-19 pandemic also caused fewer workers to enter direct care at the exact time the need for their services was growing. Between 2021 and 2031, nearly 9.3 million total direct care jobs will need to be filled, according to the Public Health Institute. The Direct Care Workforce Strategies Center is addressing this challenge by providing resources, technical assistance and training to state systems, providers and community partners to improve recruitment, training and retention.
NCOA Chief Customer Officer Josh Hodges said, “Addressing the direct care workforce crisis is a national problem that requires state-based solutions.”
Each state in the Peer-Learning Collaboratives will discuss strategies for growing, enhancing and retaining the direct care workforce to make it easier to replicate proven solutions across the country. In addition to Washington, the states selected to participate are California, Connecticut, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, Oregon and Vermont. This first cohort runs through Dec. 31, 2024.
The working groups will have monthly meetings focused on group learning, information sharing and developing best practices. Each participating state also will accomplish one policy or program-related milestone. For Washington, that will be a report on best practices and options for non-wage benefits for direct care workers such as transportation assistance and childcare.
