California Master Plan for Aging & budget proposal considers the future of care workers, staffing & training
Happy Wednesday KIRC family!
In the midst of a national news cycle that feels somewhat challenging with headlines involving:
Supply chain/product shortages…
Gerrymandering efforts in various communities across the country…
People of all backgrounds fighting to maintain voting rights within our democracy…
Severe and deadly winter weather and of course…
OMICRON & COVID!
Well, it is enough to make one feel … despondent.
But… DON’T. And here’s why.
Julia Yarbough/Keeping it REAL Caregiving
I virtually joined a stakeholder meeting this Tuesday hosted by the California Department of Aging.
Members on the call reviewed some key elements of the Master Plan for Aging (MPA) which, incidentally will hold its anniversary summit this Friday.
The MPA covers wide ranging elements and impacts of our aging population, including within the caregiving sector.
There are also some positive developments in recognizing the importance of our ‘care’ workforce and ways to support the profession.
Here are a few highlights I wanted to share.
1. The 2022-2023 California State Budget Proposal released January 10, 2022 includes many focus areas, but those within the labor and workforce development category include several proposals which stand out.
One of which is the 21st Century Nursing Initiative. The proposed budget summary reads:
Comprehensive Nursing Initiative—$270 million General Fund to increase the number of registered nurses, licensed vocational nurses, certified nursing assistants, certified nurse midwives, certified medical assistants, family nurse practitioners, and other health professions.
2. Stakeholders from up and down the state have been weighing in during the past year to visualize how to effectively move forward with the Master Plan, including reframing caregiving that actually works.
How many of you right now are struggling to figure out how to care for an elder, hold your job, care for your own family, keep your health intact all while navigating changing medical and logistical needs? I know lots of hands just went up!
The good news, is that many policy-makers in California are aware of what challenges we, as caregivers face. It also means all of us, must continue to raise our voices, share our stories and stay vigilant to ensure the proposals become reality.
One target area of focus is creating better, ‘high-quality’ caregiving jobs; work that often leads to the question, “Who will take care of the caregivers?”
What do we mean by high-quality? Many of you have weighed in on this topic and it seems to me, that means, being PAID an equitable wage for the intensity of the work involved. It also means proper training and career growth as well as garnering the respect that other vital professions enjoy.
Courtesy: MPA Impact Stakeholder Committee Webinar
For this job creation sector, the budget proposal specifically includes efforts to expand the ‘care economy workforce’ with:
…A one-time $1.7 billion investment over three years in care economy workforce development—across both the Labor and Workforce Development Agency (Labor Agency) and California Health and Human Services Agency (CalHHS)—that will create more innovative and accessible opportunities to recruit, train, hire, and advance an ethnically and culturally inclusive health and human services workforce, with improved diversity, wages, and health equity outcomes.
3. Discussion also touched on long term services and support (LTSS) and how to ensure more people seeking assistance receive the help they need. Much of that depends on having enough properly trained and sufficiently paid care staff.
The Executive Director of UDW (United Domestic Workers) spoke during the session.
Doug Moore issued a strong recommendation to the MPA Committee, that more attention must be given to those who make up the care economy.
“Direct care is a career and direct care workers are professionals; let’s treat them as such with meaningful training, especially when caring for those with cognitive impairments. We need a care career ladder to overcome workforce shortages and reduce turnover.”
4. SAVE THE DATE!
Coming up on February 1, 2022, there is a virtual session scheduled, which aims to dive into issues surrounding California’s Direct Care Workforce.
The invite reads:
CDA, on behalf of CalHHS, together with LWDA, is hosting a stakeholder webinar on Tuesday, February 1 from 10:00 am – 11:30 am.
This webinar is open to all stakeholders interested in learning more about the historic investments in California’s direct care workforce. Representatives from both agencies currently implementing workforce initiatives will present progress reports on the efforts underway to recruit, train, and compensate California’s direct care workforce.
Where do we fit in?
▶️ What specific details do you want policy makers to know about the care workforce? Jump into the discussion or email me at: [email protected].
▶️ Are you a family or professional caregiver? What improvements and/or changes to the work landscape would help you the most? Let me hear from you – dive into the discussion.
▶️ Also, remember: on the heels of our Martin Luther King, Jr. Day historical perspective post, I would love share more of YOUR stories. Send KIRC a story or memorable moment from between 1960 – 1970, that you believe reflects you or a family member experiencing our nation’s history as it was unfolding.
👉 Look for those later this week! It’s easy – just email to: [email protected].
👀 Call for KIRC help: And finally, putting out a Northern California/Butte County call for help. Seeking an individual (CNA) or agency which specializes in providing in-home services with an emphasis in wound and bowel care.
Until next time,
Julia
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*Header Image: Courtesy Adobe Stock*
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