TLC Program (Time to Learn & Care)
Pennsylvania - TLC Program (Time to Learn & Care)
Workforce Innovation Submitted By: Westmoreland-Fayette Workforce Investment Board
Community Challenge/Problem
The healthcare industry is always in need of Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA) to perform patient care. Long term care providers in Fayette and Westmoreland Counties (southwestern PA) are no different and need CNA’s to provide quality resident care to the senior population.
Redstone Highlands, a long term care agency, offers a variety of housing choices for older adults. As a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC), it offers independent living with continuing care options that includes supportive, memory impairment, skilled nursing and rehabilitation care.
Board Solution/Innovation
Redstone Highlands, along with four other employer partners, worked together to conduct cohort training through the Time to Learn & Care (TLC) program. This program, administered through the Westmoreland-Fayette Workforce Investment Board, provided six training cycles, with each cycle offering a class for ten trainees. The partnership provided the opportunity to conduct training for a few employees from each agency during each cycle, reducing the impact that would have been experienced by having multiple staff pulled from their work duties to attend training. The trainees were recruited by each employer prior to placing the trainee in the training cycle. Trainees had the advantage of beginning training shortly after initial employment.
Outcomes & Results
Five cycles of training have been completed, and the cumulative results to date meet the goals established by the partners at the beginning of the initiative. (The sixth cycle has been completed but the results are not yet available.) Redstone Highlands employed ten trainees, nine of which successfully completed the training, providing a completion rate of 90%. Of the nine trainees completing the program, eight have been retained, providing a retention rate of 89%, which is greater than the national average. Other employers saw similar results.
The TLC program also provided benefits not associated with the standardized CNA training. The trainees were provided case management support to help them complete the training program successfully. Additionally, the program provided enhanced education of a Certificate in Gerontology from the Institute of Aging at the University of Pittsburgh. Also, a service excellence (soft skills) education series was provided through the Westmoreland County Community College.
The Vice President of Human Resources for Redstone Highlands stated, “This is a great example of several partners joining forces to provide employment along with a great educational opportunity to those who are under or unemployed. All of the combined resources should make retention of CNA’s stronger for each employer.”
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