On October 25, 2001, Governor George Pataki and Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno announced $80 million in grants to continue New York State’s effort to improve recruitment, retention, and training of health care workers. The state awarded grants to hospitals, nursing homes, and home health agencies, including $1.4 million to Cooperative Home Care Associates (CHCA), a member of PHI’s Cooperative Healthcare Network.

CHCA will use these funds to continue its enhanced training program, a four-week program that integrates communication and problem solving skills into the standard home care curriculum. CHCA, located in the South Bronx, employs over 600 home health aides, most of whom are Latina and African American women. A worker-owned licensed agency, CHCA contracts with the Visiting Nurse Service, the Dominican Sisters Family Health Service, and Independence Care System to provide home health services to the elderly and to adults living with disabilities.

“We believe that quality training is essential to quality care,” says Michael Elsas, president of CHCA. “Our trainees receive an extra two-weeks of training, beyond that required by federal and state law. This allows them to develop the skills and the confidence they need to provide compassionate and competent care to our clients.”