In February, legislators are expected to vote on a bill that will strengthen training programs for homecare and personal support workers in Oregon. If done correctly this can be a win-win for the State, consumers, and SEIU members.
Oregon is already experiencing a crisis in care, and with growing demand for homecare and personal support workers, it’s about to get a lot worse. To meet this challenge we need to create a modern infrastructure that supports workers and consumers.
In 2018, the Legislature should begin this effort by strengthening training programs. SEIU 503 members cite better training, when connected to higher wages and career ladders, as one of the most important areas where the State needs to make improvements. More access to training has also been shown to reduce turnover and increase workers’ skillset. That, in turn, will improve the quality of care that consumers receive, while also helping workers grow their careers.
SEIU members also note that access and quality of current training offerings are in sufficient. We need a much more robust program that takes geography, language, and cost to the worker into account.
Many of Oregon’s leading voices agree. Rebecca Sandoval, president of the SEIU homecare sub local, believes that homecare workers should “have increased access to training, so that providing homecare no longer has to be a dead end, but can be a step up the ladder for those who want to advance their career.”
According to a report commissioned by the Oregon Home Care Commission, “Professionalizing the [homecare] workforce is of utmost importance to ensuring a high standard of care is available to those who need it … Training is critical to this process.”
Oregon Secretary of State Dennis Richardson’s recent audit of DHS found that “[i]n coordination with the Oregon Home Care Commission and SEIU, [APD should] establish minimum homecare worker training requirements and develop refresher courses for topics covered in orientation.”
The legislative session begins February 5. Stay tuned for more information as this conversation unfolds.