The investment into WisCaregiver Careers is expected to add 3,000 CNAs to the state’s workforce.
A new $6 million investment to expand the WisCaregiver Careers workforce development program in Wisconsin is expected to fill as many as 3,000 new certified nursing assistant (CNA) training slots.
WisCaregiver Careers, a public-private partnership, is designed to address the shortage of CNAs in Wisconsin nursing homes by providing free training, free certification testing, and $500 sign-on or retention bonuses. The idea is to encourage new workers to enter the field of caregiving by lowering the costs of becoming a CNA and by making training more readily accessible.
“Across Wisconsin, a strong healthcare and long-term care provider workforce is essential to the health of our entire state,” said Gov. Tony Evers. “With an aging population, Wisconsin has been facing a healthcare workforce shortage for years—a challenge the COVID-19 pandemic only further underscored—and this funding will support a real solution to the state’s healthcare staffing needs that will benefit our entire state well beyond this pandemic.”
WisCaregiver Careers, originally launched in 2018, has engaged more than 300 of Wisconsin’s 385 nursing homes in expanding the healthcare workforce. With a previous $400,000 grant, the program is on track to exceed its goal of training 500 new CNAs for employment before the end of June, according to a press release.
“Supporting and strengthening Wisconsin’s long-term care workforce is a critical part of addressing the healthcare workforce shortage statewide,” said DHS Secretary-designee Karen Timberlake. “With this investment, we will expand a program that is working and build our efforts to grow a workforce ready to support Wisconsin’s health needs today and in the future.”
The $6 million investment, funded through the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Nursing Home & Long-term Care Facility Strike Team program, will expand the current program including recruiting qualified employers. To date, more than 180 employers have registered with the program.
Funds will support employee recruitment and success through retention bonuses, employer reimbursement and success bonuses, and mentorships.
“This funding will support a real solution to the state’s healthcare staffing needs that will benefit our entire state well beyond this pandemic.”
— Gov. Tony Evers, Wisconsin
Carol Davis is the Nursing Editor at HealthLeaders, an HCPro brand.