California GROWs – CDA’s Direct Care Workforce Initiative

The California GROWs (CalGrows) initiative is CDA’s Direct Care Workforce Training and Stipends Program that will incentivize, support, and fund career pathways for the Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) workforce (non-IHSS). CalGrows seeks to provide the foundation for many positive outcomes in HCBS, including increased skills, satisfaction, retention, and career development opportunities for direct care workers.

CalGrows will include a multi-pronged approach to improving the skills and retention of the direct care workforce sector.

• The CalGrows program leverages the IHSS Career Pathways Program, enabling CalGrows program participants access to the curriculum offered through the IHSS training pathways, including participation stipends.
• The CalGrows Innovation Fund provided grants to fund novel approaches to training and retention. 76 organizations received funding to meet the specialized and culturally competent needs of California’s home and community-based Direct Care Workforce. The Innovation Fund totals approximately $89 million.

The target population included non-IHSS direct care workers who provide direct support to Medi-Cal recipients in the home and community, including home care aides, unlicensed social workers, personal care assistants, activities coordinators, care coordinators, community health workers, and transportation providers.

The CalGrows program ended September 30, 2024.

• Direct Care Worker Survey and Focus Group Report
• Stakeholder Interview Synthesis
• Promising Practices Scan

California has seen remarkable outcomes made possible by the CalGrows incentive program:

• Over 25,000 total learners participated in training
• Over $26.9 million of paid incentives anticipated
• More than 750 trainings offered

Watch this special video featuring testimonies from direct care workers positively impacted by CalGrows. Their stories bring to life the real-world difference this program has made.

Though the CalGrows incentive program has come to an end, the desire to support direct care workers and those they serve continues.

CDA is establishing an online learning platform, which will include many CalGrows courses. This is projected to complete in the Summer of 2025. Until then, some of the CalGrows on-demand training content will remain accessible through the CDA CalGrows Course page for caregivers to improve knowledge, occupational skills, and confidence in their caregiving services.

Access to CalGrows Free Caregiver Courses

Finance Deliverables
Due 10th of each month

• Budget Revision Guidance (Rev. 04/24)
• CDA 3049 CalGrows Reimbursement Template
• CDA 3049i CalGrows Reimbursement Template Instructions

Program Deliverables
Due 10th of each month

• Incentive Report Template (Rev. 04/24, v2)
• Learner List Course Attendance Template (Rev. 04/24)

Close-Out Deliverables
Due 30 days after completion of the program, no later than October 31, 2024

• CalGrows Financial Closeout Template (Rev 09.24)
• CalGrows Financial Closeout Template Instructions (Rev 09.24)
• CalGrows Final Narrative Report Template

Grant Guidance

• Grant Management Procedures Guide
• Procuring Goods and Services

For questions, please contact cagrows@aging.ca.gov.

For future opportunities to partner with CDA, please visit Grant Opportunities.