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LeadingAge

Former LeadingAge Staffer Wins Praise for Home Health Worker Training Program

| June 05, 2015

A multifaceted training program for home health workers, which is directed by a former LeadingAge staff member, could serve as a model for states seeking to meet demands for long-term care from a growing older population with increasingly complex health needs. That’s the conclusion of a new case study about the SEIU Healthcare NW Training Partnership in Seattle, WA.

A multifaceted training program for home health workers, which is directed by a former LeadingAge staff member, could serve as a model for states seeking to meet demands for long-term care from a growing older population with increasingly complex health needs.

That’s the conclusion of a new case study about the SEIU Healthcare NW Training Partnership in Seattle, WA. Improving Jobs to Improve Care comes from the Aspen Institute’s Workforce Strategies Initiative.

Charissa Raynor, executive director of the SEIU 775 Benefits Group, which includes the Training Partnership, worked as a research associate at LeadingAge from 2001-2003. She has been with SEIU since 2008.

“Charissa is an alumna of our group and we are so proud of her,” says Robyn Stone, executive director of the Center for Applied Research. “We have been following her work at the Training Partnership for many years and we continue to be impressed with its approach and its outcomes.” 

Training Partnership's Unique Features

A nonprofit school founded in 2007, the Training Partnership is the largest provider of certified home care workers in Washington. 

“With more than 45,000 total trainees on any given day (both new and incumbent workers), it is the second-largest educational institution in the state by enrollment -- behind only the University of Washington,” according to the Aspen Institute case study.

The program is noted for its 90% completion rate and for the fact that its students account for the majority (70% in 2013) of the state’s certification earners.

The Aspen Institute case study identifies 4 approaches that set the Training Partnership apart from similar programs:

  • A collaborative approach: The Training Partnership’s board of trustees has equal representation from employers, including the state of Washington, and workers’ unions. 
  • Training for all needs: The Partnership has a “well-organized instructor network delivering thousands of courses annually and developing dozens of new ones each year,” according to the Aspen Institute case study. Students can enroll in courses offering basic training and preparation for certification, continuing education, and nurse delegation training. 
  • A Registered Apprenticeship Program: The Partnership operates the nation’s first registered apprenticeship program for home health workers. Each apprentice agrees to take an additional 82 hours of advanced classroom work, including 12 hours of peer mentoring. Upon graduation, the apprentice is assured a pay increase for the additional training and a certificate of completion from the Department of Labor (DOL). DOL recognized the apprenticeship program as a “Trailblazer and Innovator” in 2012. The White House recognized the program in 2014 as a model for creating career pathways and opportunity.
  • Flexibility and support: Several approaches help to ensure the success of trainees. For example, training is delivered both in-person and online at multiple locations and at various times to accommodate workers’ schedules. In addition, classes are available in many different languages, and interpreters are available for unique languages. 

Kudos from State Officials

The Aspen Institute’s 1-year study included interviews with Training Partnership employer partners, labor partners, leadership in the state of Washington, and home care aides. State officials said the Training Partnership has added “horsepower” to Washington’s efforts to train home care aides, according to the Aspen Institute case study.

"The Training Partnership aims to make a positive difference in the lives and health of older adults and people with disabilities in Washington state by developing a workforce that is competent, compassionate and there when you need them,” said Raynor. “We aim to make home care jobs better for workers and, in turn, for consumers.”