Last winter, PHI made a strong case for using the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to invest in the direct-care workforce.
That message got through, and in July, the US DOL’s Employment and Training Administration released a solicitation for grant applications (pdf) that offers great opportunities for long-term care providers and others who are seeking funding for workforce training and development.
This latest grant solicitation seeks to fund projects in health care and other high-growth industries. About $125 million will go to projects providing training, education, and job placement assistance to prepare workers to enter the health care field. Grants will range from $2 million to $5 million each.
To help interested parties navigate the grant solicitation process, PHI has prepared a fact sheet (pdf) that answers frequently asked questions regarding DOL priorities, the types of projects that may receive funding, who can apply, and critical deadlines.
News from Washington State
In related news, the Washington State Long Term Care Ombudsman Program recently received $150,000 in stimulus funds for a 15-month pilot project supporting recruitment and retention of South King County’s nursing home workforce, including certified nursing assistants.
Nursing homes will be able to apply for funds to: implement or expand consistent assignment, establish peer mentor programs, promote workforce education in dementia care, remove barriers to employment, or implement other staff retention projects.
What a great way for an organization to take advantage of these funds to establish and support a Registered Apprenticeship or registered internship program. Included here are specific allowable activities under the SGA
• Classroom occupational training – Necessary for the Registered Apprenticeship / Internship program.
• On the job training activities – Necessary for the Registered Apprenticeship / Internship program.
• Development and implementation of Registered Apprenticeship / Internship – Work with your Local Apprenticeship Training Representative on this one.
• Internship programs; – Same requirements as the Apprenticeship program and can be registered with the Office of Apprenticeship as a Registered Internship
• Customized training to increase skills of incumbent workers registered into the Apprenticeship or Internship program
• Basic skills training, such as adult basic education, English as a Second
Language (ESL), and job readiness training;
• Initial assessment of skill levels, aptitudes, abilities, competencies, and
supportive service needs;
I hope all that read this are able to contact their closest representative to align the Registration of an Apprenticeship or Internship to take advantage of this opportunity for long term success.