For Immediate Release
The Situation Report | December 9, 2024
Direct Caregiver Flexibility (RFA# 20422)
The NYS Department of Health has released the long-awaited direct caregiver flexibility grant from DOH that is intended to create a more uniform and centralized “training and support system” for direct care workers (PCA, HHA and CNA) in the ten (10) Economic Development Regions (“EDR”) as outlined in the RFA.
DOH seeks to establish at least one Direct Care Training Center in each of the 10 EDRs. Training Centers are intended to serve as a regional hub for direct caregiver training opportunities that develops a pipeline of individuals trained and able to work in direct care jobs. This is a 5-year award, and a breakdown of funding for Years 1-2 and Years 3-5 are outlined in Table 2 of the RFA.
Applicants must be an approved DOH or SED training program for one or more of the targeted titles and may provide a mix of in-person and distance education trainings if already approved to do so as is the case with approved hybrid home care training programs. Applicants may apply to be a direct care training center for more than one region but will need to submit a separate application for each desired region.
Applicants not currently approved to provide all three trainings (PCA, HHA, CNA) can subcontract with approved training programs to supplement their own and meet the requirement that all three titles must be included in the Center’s offerings.
Direct Caregiver Training Centers must:
- Engage in community outreach to identify potential trainees;
- Provide free training to all trainees in any of the three training types (PCA, HHA, CNA);
- Provide a stipend to trainees for the time the individual is in training;
- Provide reimbursement to trainees for the cost of travel to and from the Training Center for the period of training;
- Provide trainees with information about all direct caregiver titles (PCA, HHA, and CNA) including, but not limited to: Job Duties, Salary ranges, Training opportunities, and Training requirements;
- Provide trainees the opportunity to select and complete training for any of the provided titles (PCA, HHA, and CNA);
- Provide trainees with a list of employers and employment opportunities for each direct caregiver title; and
- Ensure that the trainees have the appropriate certificates to allow employment once they have successfully completed the training and related tests.
Direct Caregiver Training Centers cannot require an employment agreement between a specific organization and a trainee as a condition of providing free training.
Training Centers must have a Direct Caregiver Support Hub to serve as its workforce development branch assisting with engagement and outreach as well as providing case management, career development, mentorship and other support including mitigation of language and culture barriers to ultimately assist individuals with successful training and placement.
The RFA further outlines the scope of work for the Training Centers, and Direct Caregiver Support Hubs and the instructions for submitting applications through the NYS Statewide Financial System website.
Key Dates:
Questions Due: December 17, 2024, by 4:00 PM (Include in the subject line of the email: RFA# 20422 - Direct Caregiver Flexibility)
Questions, Answers and Updates Posted (on or about): January 7, 2025, by 4:00 PM
Applications Due: January 21, 2025, by 4:00 PM
NYSDOH Contact Name & Address:
Carol Rodat, Special Advisor to Office of Aging and Long-Term Care, New York State Department of Health, 875 Central Avenue, Albany, NY 12210.
Telephone: 518-402-0990
Email:
Community Aging in Place - Advancing Better Living for Elders (CAPABLE)
The New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) Office of Aging and Long Term Care has published a Solicitation of Interest (SOI) to identify qualified organizations who are interested in applying for an upcoming Request for Applications (RFA) to provide the services described under the CAPABLE initiative.
DOH plans on releasing an opportunity for up to 20 qualified organizations to implement and manage the Community Aging in Place – Advancing Better Living for Elders (CAPABLE) initiative in their communities.
This grant opportunity will fully fund CAPABLE implementation and delivery across four New York State regions. The intention is to include four (4) sites in the Capital District Region, three (3) sites in the Central New York Region, nine (9) sites in the Metropolitan Area Region, and four (4) sites in the Western Region. An anticipated annual award of $315,000 per site will be provided for up to three years beginning July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2028 contingent upon the availability of state funds and approval of the Office of the State Comptroller.
CAPABLE is an evidence-based program that combines nursing, occupational therapy, and handy worker services to help older adults live independently in their home environments. By addressing the home environment and personal health, CAPABLE has been shown to improve the functionality of participants and reduce healthcare costs. Moreover, the program has been tested in numerous small and large trials showing a benefit toward better functioning, decreased hospitalizations, and decreased nursing home admissions.
CAPABLE involves up to ten in-home sessions over five (5) months between the participant and a CAPABLE team comprised of a Registered Nurse (RN), Occupational Therapist (OT), and handy worker. The RN and the OT receive individualized training in motivational interviewing and person-centered care. They follow a specialty-specific outline to perform assessments, provide education, and encourage interactive problem-solving skills.
For more information on the CAPABLE program model visit:https://capablenationalcenter.org/.
Minimum Qualifications of Eligible Organizations
- Applicant must be prequalified in the New York State Statewide Financial System (SFS0, if not exempt, on the date and time applications in response to the RFA will be due;
- Applicant must be a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, or a for-profit organization, either of which provides or arranges services for aging individuals with a functional need for assistance or chronic health conditions. Applicants eligible to apply for funding may include but are not limited to Certified Home Health Agencies (CHHAs), regionally governed health systems, or Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs);
- Applicant must be authorized to do business in New York State. If the Applicant is located outside of New York State, they must have a brick-and-mortar location in New York State; and
- Applicants will be required to submit an Eligibility Requirement Attestation in their application.
Interested entities must submitted a letter of interest by December 20, 2024 at 4:00 PM.
Submit to contact: NYS Dept. of Health
Center for Aging and Long Term Care Policy and Finance Initiatives
Office of Aging and Long Term Care
Amy Hegener, Bureau Director
1 Commerce Plaza, Albany, NY 12210
Ph: 518-474-9844
HCANYS will send the updated RFA upon its release.
Healthcare Education and Life-skills Program (HELP)
On October 22nd the NYS Department of Health released the RFA for their new Healthcare Education and Life-skills Program (HELP) which aims to fund healthcare training programs that provide a holistic approach in supporting trainees on their paths to success and increase their self-efficacy to thrive in an evolving healthcare environment.
Specifically, this initiative seeks to increase the healthcare workforce by:
- Identifying healthcare workforce shortages by region and supporting students/trainees interested in pursuing careers to meet the identified healthcare needs of the region.
- Increasing graduation/completion rates among students/trainees by assessing the barriers to completion, and providing the necessary supports required for success.
The RFA seeks to fund projects at least two projects in each of the 10 NYS Dept of Labor Regions with grants between the minimum of $250,000 and maximum award of $1M per year. Awards will be made on a competitive basis for a five year period.
Applicant organizations must be a Not-for-Profit organization that offers support to students, or trainees, pursuing careers in healthcare. The student or trainee target population should be informed by regional or local healthcare workforce needs. An applicant may subcontract components of the Work Plan (up to 25% of the total scope of work) which allows a pathway for partnership with complimentary organizations that can assist with achievement of the overall program goals.
Non-profit organizations that are eligible to apply for funding include but are not limited to:
- Area health education centers
- Community based organizations
- Community health associations
- Educational institutions
- General hospitals
- Healthcare facilities
- Healthcare worker unions
- Joint labor-management training funds and committees
- Long term care facilities
- Regional health planning organizations
- Regional health networks
- Rural health networks
- Trade associations
- Workforce Investment Organizations
Questions and answers have been posted here.
Applications are due on December 20, 2024 by 4:00 PM
NYSDOH Contact Name & Address:
Carrie Roseamelia
New York State Department of Health
Office of Healthcare Workforce Innovation
ESP, Corning Tower – Room 1696
Albany, New York 12237