CNA Training Opportunities Available
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has made available focused workforce grants to critical sectors including the health care community in order to prepare individuals to secure employment, support their families, and contribute to the state’s post-pandemic economic recovery. There are several funding sources and grant opportunities to train Certified Nursing Assistants. The following programs offer opportunities for nursing facilities to hire newly trained CNAs, create career pathways for Resident Care Assistants, and/or forge partnerships with local training providers and workforce boards to become an employer of choice.
Mass Senior Care will be offering a virtual informational session for members on these training opportunities. Date and details will be sent soon.
- CNA Programs Funded with Grants from Commonwealth Corporation
These programs are intended to support unemployed or underemployed individuals in accessing training and employment. Commonwealth Corporation is making an exception for individuals who are employed as Resident Care Assistants working in long term care to be eligible for these training opportunities. No other job title such as feeding assistant, dietary, housekeeping aide is eligible under this exception.- Nursing facilities should consider creating a career pathway from Resident Care Assistants to CNA with training available through these programs.
- Nursing facilities should consider these programs as a recruiting source for newly trained CNAs.
- TRAIN Grant Program
The Training Resources and Internship Network (TRAIN) grants provide training for long-term unemployed, under-employed and new-entrant adult workers. Employers are encouraged to act quickly since the grants end on June 30, 2021.- Nursing facilities should consider creating a career pathway from Resident Care Assistants to CNA with training available through these programs.
- Nursing facilities should consider these programs as a recruiting source for newly trained CNAs.
- Partnerships for Recovery Request for Proposal
The Partnerships for Recovery Request for Proposal will provide up to $4.652M to fund the scale up of existing training vendors, partnering with employers and MassHire Career Centers to train and place individuals impacted by COVID for priority occupations to meet post-COVID hiring demand. Grant applications may be submitted starting March 3, 2021 through September 30, 2021, or until grant funds are exhausted.- Nursing facilities with existing CNA training programs could apply as an applicant. The applicant will collaborate with regional partners, including MassHire Workforce Boards and MassHire Career Centers.
- Nursing facilities should consider creating a career pathway from newly hired Resident Care Assistants to CNA with training available through these programs.
- Nursing facilities should consider these programs as a recruiting source for newly trained CNAs.