ALBANY, N.Y. – The Foundation for Quality Care today announced a new initiative designed to attract and retain qualified Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) for New York’s nursing homes. The Geriatric Nursing Assistant Career Development initiative, funded by a $475,000 grant award from the Jacob and Valeria Langeloth Foundation, will provide CNAs with advanced training in geriatric care and establish a new Advanced Geriatric CNA credential.

The Advanced Geriatric CNA credential is being developed in coordination with the New York Department of Health (DOH) and the Cornell Institute for Translational Research and Aging (CITRA).

"This grant will allow us to improve the quality of care for residents in New York nursing homes," said Bryan E. Boeskin, director of resource development and grants management for the Foundation for Quality Care. "Delivering the best care for nursing home residents means having available highly qualified, well-trained professionals. New York must attract and retain these seasoned professionals, and this new initiative will improve facilities across the state by doing both."

The Geriatric Nursing Assistant Career Development initiative is a joint effort between the Cornell Institute for Translational Research on Aging (CITRA), the State University of New York Institute of Technology (SUNYIT), the New York State Department of Health and state and regional Workforce Investment Boards. The initiative is scheduled to begin July 2008.

The purpose of the training effort is to grow the number of well-trained CNAs working in New York’s participating long term care facilities by 5% and increase the retention rates among these skilled professionals 15% by 2011. To date, more than 70 nursing homes have expressed interest in participating in the program.

"The shortage of and demands placed upon caregivers are reaching crisis proportions," said Jennifer Segel, Program Officer at the Langeloth Foundation. "The lack of training and other forms of support in the paraprofessional healthcare field threaten the health and well-being of many Americans."

The Geriatric Nursing Assistant Career Development initiative will be regionally based and is expected to provide advanced training to nearly 400 CNAs. The program includes six major components:

• A nine module, 27 hour in-service advanced geriatric CNA education program for approximately 100 facilities across New York;
• Development of a new DOH and CITRA endorsed Advanced Geriatric CNA credential;
• Employer training and support to help guide program implementation within facilities;
• Creation of employer-based advancement opportunities to support the advanced CNA career path;
• Coordination of available services from state and local government and educational partners to provide long term care providers with technical assistance and services to identify, recruit, and place entry level CNAs;
• Assistance for employers that develop continuing CNA and direct care workforce training programs.

Funding for the initiative will come from a grant awarded to the Foundation for Quality Care by the Jacob and Valeria Langeloth Foundation. The Foundation for Quality Care, the research and education affiliate of the New York State Health and Facilities Association (NYSHFA), received the three-year $475,000 grant award this spring.

The award is the single-largest private grant the organization has received since it was established in 2001. Over the last 16 months the Foundation for Quality Care has received more than $1.5 million in grant awards to support vital programs such as the Leadership Institute, an industry-leading training course for New York’s nursing home administrators and staff at all levels.