Organizational example:
Paraprofessional Health Care Institute and Home Care Associates of Philadelphia
Organization/Program |
Paraprofessional Health Care Institute (PHI) and Home Care Associates of Philadelphia(HCA) |
Program Purpose |
To increase the number of skilled health care paraprofessionals - home health aides, certified nursing assistants, and caregivers in the Philadelphia area |
Program Description |
The PHI and HCA have partnered to provide a four-week training program to attract individuals to field. Program participants receive an hourly wage and a benefits package. Additional benefits including shift supplements, paid travel time, earned leave benefits, attendance bonuses, full employer-paid health insurance, a company sponsored pager, and transportation subsidies are provided in order to encourage participant retention. While the starting wage for home health aides is $7.50 per hour, once the full benefits are factored in, total cash value is over $13.00 per hour. Also, aides are eligible to receive raises on an annual basis. Because HCA is a worker-owned company, home health aides enjoy a share of the company's end-of-the-year profits. In the last three years, worker owners have received at total of $1800 per worker in dividends. |
Progress |
HCA far exceeds average aide retention rates as reported in a recent national survey of home care companies. Sixty percent of HCA’S workers have been employed more than one year, as compared to a national average of 28 percent. Thirty-four percent of HCA’s workers have been employed over two years, as compared to a national average of six percent |
Contact Information |
Peggy Powell, Director of Workforce Strategies Karen Kulp, President |
Information from Karen Kulp of Home Care Associates.