By Geralyn Magan
LTSS Center researchers help the State of Colorado describe its direct care workforce and identify best practices for strengthening it.
A looming staffing crisis in the direct care workforce has raised awareness at the state level about the need for better data on that workforce, its characteristics, and challenges.
That awareness led Colorado’s Department of Health Care Policy and Financing to enlist the LeadingAge LTSS Center @UMass Boston to help it collect and analyze data describing the state’s direct care workforce, and to identify best practices that the state could use to strengthen that workforce.
The Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing established the Long-Term Direct Care Workforce group and charged it with identifying ways to prepare Colorado for the growing demand for long-term services and supports (LTSS).
“Without reliable data on direct care workers, state leaders and other stakeholders are unable to determine the extent of workforce shortages and where the shortages are most critical, or to track other workforce-related characteristics and trends,” says Natasha Bryant, managing director/senior research associate at the LTSS Center.
ABOUT THE PROJECT
Over the next 6 months, the LTSS Center will systematically collect and analyze employer-level data describing Colorado’s direct care workforce. That information will come from public data sources at the state and federal level.
In addition, researchers will identify best practices that other states are implementing in the area of training, career advancement, scope of practice, and supervision of direct care workers. Topics to be explored in the synthesis will be decided in collaboration with the Long-Term Direct Care Workforce group, but could include entry-level and advanced competency-based training curricula, methods for training delivery, specialized positions and advanced roles, and expansion of nurse delegation.
“These practices can serve as models for Colorado as the state plans for the growing demand for long-term care and builds a quality direct care workforce,” says Bryant.
3 REPORTS
At the end of the grant period, the LTSS Center will produce 3 reports:
• A description of the landscape of Colorado’s direct care workforce. This description will include the characteristics of the direct care workforce; different levels and positions within that workforce and the scope of work for each position; and projections for the supply of and demand for the workforce.
• A summary of findings from the best practices research. This report will summarize the efforts that other states are carrying out to train, supervise, and offer career advancement opportunities to direct care workers; models for improving the recruitment and retention of workers; and recommendations for recruiting and supporting workers.
• A final report containing findings from the data analyses and best practices research. This report will include next steps and recommendations for how Colorado can recruit and prepare workers to meet demand for long-term services and supports and address gaps that exist in the state.