California is facing a looming shortage of caregivers for older adults and adults with disabilities over the next five to 10 years. To address this critical need, the California Department of Aging (CDA), under the California Health & Human Services Agency, has introduced the CalGrows program. This initiative aims to support caregivers by providing free training courses and incentive payments.
CalGrows is designed to enhance the skills of both paid direct care workers and unpaid family and friend caregivers. More than 70 organizations across California have received funding through the CalGrows Innovation Fund to develop and scale innovative training courses. To date, over 13,000 caregivers have participated in more than 89,000 training courses, earning more than $7 million in incentive payments.
“CalGrows has been instrumental in addressing the impending shortage of caregivers in California,” said CDA Director Susan DeMarois. “Thousands of enrollees across the state—many of them women and people of color—have been able to take free training courses and earn financial incentives of up to $6,000 while building their skills. CalGrows offers a tremendous opportunity for caregivers to learn new skills and improve existing ones to deliver the best possible care to older adults and adults with disabilities. I encourage all California caregivers to take advantage of this free training before the program ends on September 30, 2024.”
A Win for Caregivers
“We can apply what we learn in our everyday work life immediately,” said Jeannie Smith of Napa Valley Support Services about her experience with CalGrows. “People feel empowered by being able to take what they learned and immediately use it in their workplace.”
Sean Hidalgo, who manages CalGrows courses at Sacramento’s ACC Senior Services, remarked, “Being a caregiver and direct care worker is a very hard job. Having the opportunity not just to take these free courses but also to receive incentive pay is a huge win for them.”
ACC driver Keng Thor, who has taken CalGrows courses, was also positive about his experience, stating, “The knowledge I received from CalGrows was put to use and made me more confident in being able to meet and interact with my clients.”
California’s Aging Population is Growing Quickly
By 2030, 25% of the state’s population will be over age 60, outnumbering younger generations for the first time. This population shift increases the need for skilled caregivers as more Californians face age-related conditions like Alzheimer’s and limited mobility. CalGrows is a critical step toward increasing California’s workforce of high-quality caregivers.
About the Free Caregiver Trainings
CalGrows provides a foundation for increased skills, job satisfaction, retention, and career development opportunities for direct care workers. This includes both paid professional caregivers and family and friends who step into caregiver roles. More than 600 free, virtual, and in-person courses are available on CalGrows.org. The course catalog is searchable by topic, location, and language, with courses offered in nine languages to address the needs of California’s diverse population. Topics include:
- Dementia care
- Patient-centered communication
- Mobility assistance techniques
- Healthcare professional self-care
- Managing chronic disease
- Care team collaboration
Paid caregivers eligible for up to $6,000 in incentive payments must submit an Incentive Claim by August 30, 2024. While CalGrows courses will be available online through September 30, all Incentive Claims must be submitted by August 30.
For more information, visit www.aging.ca.gov.
