Scholarship program seeks to increase direct care workers
A visiting nurse helps a house-bound patient.
VERMONT- According to the most recent US Census data, Vermont’s median age is the second oldest in the United States. The shortage of direct care nursing staff statewide is a challenge to providing critical in-home supports. A new initiative is underway to address this critical staff shortage within in-home health.
The Vermont Direct Care Initiative is a collaboration within the Department of Disabilities, Aging, and Independent Living between the Adult Services Division and HireAbility Vermont. The goal is to increase the number of trained direct care workers providing in-home health care, improve recruitment and retention of direct service workers, and promote the health care career ladder through scholarships and mentorships.
The scholarship program is now accepting applications. Each scholarship will be valued at $5,000 and can be used toward education or training for in-home direct care workers. This could include LNA certificate programs, LNA-LPN-RN career ladders or specific skill development (behavior management, nutrition, Alzheimer’s specialty training, etc.). More information can be found at https://dail.vermont.gov.
