Can cooperative development help improve employment in the home care sector—where home care workers, who are primarily women of color, struggle for recognition, support, and economic stability despite their essential contribution to the community? This report examines the feasibility of cooperative development in Rochester’s home care sector as a strategy for improving job opportunities in the region, addressing the home care workforce crisis, and strengthening access to quality care for those who need it.
Key Takeaways
Rochester, New York has a rich history of economic development and innovation, but it is also one of the country’s most impoverished cities.
To improve both recruitment and retention, there is a clear need to enhance job quality and supports for home care workers in Rochester.
There is momentum behind the cooperative concept in the Rochester region, with political leadership, community endorsement, and emerging examples in action.
Kezia Scales leads PHI’s strategy for building the evidence base on state and national policies and workforce interventions that improve direct care jobs, elevate this essential workforce, and strengthen care processes and outcomes.
