SACRAMENTO – California is taking significant steps to bolster its healthcare workforce with the launch of CalGrows, a groundbreaking training and development program. This initiative offers invaluable opportunities for individuals dedicated to caring for older adults and adults with disabilities. Registered caregivers can access a wide array of free job training courses and are eligible to receive up to $6,000 in financial incentives, marking a substantial investment in the future of senior care in the state.
Governor Newsom highlighted the critical importance of this program, stating, “Investing in and growing our health care workforce is critical to the health and safety of Californians. As the entire United States faces a health care worker shortage, the CalGrows initiative is yet another tool California is using to ensure our health care workforce remains strong by providing opportunities to those already caring for loved ones.” This program directly addresses the growing need for qualified professionals in senior care and related fields.
The strength of CalGrows lies in its understanding that direct care roles are not just jobs, but pathways to meaningful career advancement. This innovative program has partnered with numerous training providers to offer a diverse catalog of virtual and in-person courses tailored for caregivers throughout California. These courses cover essential topics including Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementia, cultural competency, food safety, infection control, and effective communication techniques for both providers and consumers. Recognizing California’s diverse population, courses are available in multiple languages, ensuring accessibility for all caregivers.
Susan DeMarois, Director of the California Department of Aging, emphasizes the empowering nature of the program: “CalGrows training courses empower caregivers across California to learn valuable skills to improve the lives of those in their care and help further their careers. As California’s population ages, we’ll need hundreds of thousands more direct care workers. The CalGrows program is an important milestone toward ensuring the state has the home care aides, care managers, dementia care specialists, activities coordinators, and other important roles necessary to support our aging population.” The program is strategically designed to meet the escalating demand for skilled senior care professionals in the coming years.
Dr. Mark Ghaly, Secretary of the California Health & Human Services Agency, further underscored the program’s inclusive design and broader societal benefits: “Care workers are more likely to be women and people of color, who are also at a higher risk for age-related illnesses. CalGrows demonstrates the State’s commitment to support caregivers, as well as those they care for, by providing training in six languages at launch, with more added soon, as well as career growth opportunities. This program is essential to help California achieve our goals in the Master Plan for Aging: to build a California for all ages and abilities.” CalGrows not only supports caregivers but also promotes equity within the healthcare workforce.
CalGrows is designed to enhance individual caregiver skills, boost job satisfaction, and create clear career progression opportunities. This focus on professional growth is crucial for retaining experienced and dedicated caregivers within the senior care sector. Eligible applicants, including paid direct care workers, Home and Community-Based Services caregivers, and unpaid family and friend caregivers, are encouraged to explore the program. A significant benefit of CalGrows is the provision of up to $6,000 in financial incentives for qualified participants, easing the financial burden often associated with professional development.
Detailed information about the free training programs is readily available through the CalGrows website at www.calgrows.org. The website provides a user-friendly platform to search for courses by topic, location, language, and incentive eligibility. While a majority of courses are conveniently offered online, in-person options are also available to cater to diverse learning preferences. Paid direct care workers are particularly encouraged to investigate the financial incentives and career pathway development benefits offered through CalGrows.
The CalGrows Innovation Fund, launched earlier in the year, further demonstrates California’s commitment to this sector. Through this fund, $89 million has been allocated to 78 organizations across the state. These grants support innovative approaches to training and incentivizing both direct care Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) workforce and unpaid family and friend caregivers. Furthermore, for self-directed care workers within In Home Supportive Services (IHSS), IHSS Career Pathways offers optional training and compensation for training time, adding another layer of support within the broader senior care training landscape.
CalGrows is a cornerstone initiative within the state’s Workforce for a Healthy California Initiative. This larger strategy aims to develop a health workforce that accurately reflects California’s diverse population and delivers high-quality care to all residents. Addressing the growing workforce shortages within the health and human services system is a paramount goal. This ambitious initiative is backed by a substantial investment of over $1 billion from the 2022-23 state budget, underscoring California’s dedication to building a robust and skilled healthcare workforce for the future, with Senior Care Training Programs like CalGrows at the forefront.
