Newly hired direct care workers, who go into homes to provide care, usually to senior citizens, are in short supply. They will be given retention payments by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to try to keep them on the job.
The $3.9 million allocation is funded by the federal CARES Act. Partner Agencies include the Area Agency on Aging 1-B, which serves seniors in St. Clair County.
The program’s goal is to hire and retain at least 2,000 direct care workers by the end of 2020. New workers, who have not worked in home and community-based services over the last 60 days, are eligible for an extra $1600 if they complete training and 300 hours of work by December 30. Workers can be asked to repay the money if they do not stay at their jobs for six months.
According to a press release from MDHHS, the increase in direct care workers strengthens the workforce and could allow eligible adults to stay in their own homes instead of moving to nursing homes.
Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland
