What will the award amounts be?

Grants will vary depending on the scope of the proposal.

How do I learn more?

Sign up to receive updates and invites. The Caring4Cal Fund team will be hosting webinars and sending periodic updates.

When can I apply?

The Request for Applications (RFA) is open. Apply now!

What does it mean to focus on equity and access?

The applicant must demonstrate how proposals support the development and expansion of a culturally diverse workforce trained to provide culturally appropriate care to serve California’s diverse and aging population. Programs should demonstrate cultural competency and promote equity and access to care along multiple dimensions, including a plan to increase access to health services for rural communities, children with complex medical conditions, individuals with disabilities, and geriatric care for aging adults for the Medi-Cal population.

The applicant must demonstrate how the project will address and advance equity along a variety of dimensions such as geographic, linguistic, cultural, tribal, race, for the state, workforce, and people being served. Every proposal should include how the project will address barriers to entering the field and accessing training for the eligible provider workforce, including but not limited to: limited exposure to the field, difficulty paying for certification or licensure due to cost of training, difficulty traveling to in-person trainings due to financial constraints, difficulty attending nearby in-person trainings offered at incompatible times, and trainings not offered in their preferred language.

Who is the recruitment of and the training for?

The Caring4Cal Fund includes eligible providers in home- and community-based settings. This does not include In Home Supportive Services (IHSS) workers or workers who provide services in institutional facilities such as nursing homes. See the RFA for details.

What are the applicant eligibility requirements?

• Applicants may include, but are not limited to:
  • Home- and community-based providers
  • Trade associations
  • Direct Care Workforce training entities
  • Community-based organizations
  • Social enterprises
  • Non-profits
  • Adult education providers
• Must have experience serving Californians in the last three years
  
• Must have experience training and/or recruiting providers
• Based in the United States with authority to do business in California (e.g., possess a Certificate of Good Standing with the Secretary of State)
• A commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion
• Applicants may submit proposals as a single organization or on behalf of a consortium of organizations.
• A commitment to diversity

Applicants applying in the Training Category must also demonstrate:

• Ready-to-go training materials and a curriculum that has been successfully deployed to eligible providers (or those seeking licensure)
• Trainings are for eligible providers (or prospective providers) in home- and community-based settings, not in hospitals, nursing homes, or other institutional facilities
• Trainings are not solely for organization’s own employees
• Trainings are provided for free to eligible providers 
• All curriculum must be approved by governing bodies, if applicable

If an applicant cannot demonstrate all of the above, applicants are encouraged to partner with organizations in developing a collaborative proposal that meets the RFA requirements.

What if my organization doesn’t qualify but I know some groups that are a good fit?

Please help us spread the word! Share the Caring4Cal Fund program overview and encourage others to apply for a grant. They can also visit Caring4Cal.org to learn more and submit their application.

What are the requirements for a recruitment program?

Recruitment to eligible job roles focusing on providing care in home- and community-based settings can target one or more of the following:

• recruit new workers to the eligible job roles and appropriate licensing and certification pathways including including youth (16 to 24) and immigrants/refugees
• encourage current providers to pursue additional licensure and certifications

What should a recruitment application include?

The applicant should describe a realistic approach for recruitment and target individuals from communities that are traditionally left out in workforce development initiatives. Applicants should outline how recruitment will be defined and measured, as well as how it will be conducted in a culturally responsive and informed manner.

Can an application include both recruitment and training?

Yes, applications can propose both a recruitment and training program. Projects proposing both recruitment and training will be prioritized. Applicants are encouraged to collaborate with partner organizations to propose projects that include both. 

What types of training will be funded?

Training of current and/or prospective providers to enable and/or improve their ability to care for individuals in-home and community-based settings. This includes:

1. licensure/certification courses for eligible job roles
2. continuing education courses geared towards eligible providers
3. train-the-trainer courses related to healthcare in home- and community-based settings
4. soft skills training related to healthcare in home- and community-based settings (e.g., cultural competency, communication, self-care)
5. other education specific to certain conditions or populations

Licensing, certification and continuing education courses must be approved by the appropriate State authorities.

What competencies should the training programs teach?

Applicant training curricula should align with core competencies needed for success in the eligible job roles. Applicants will identify which of the core competencies the training will target:

• Physical Aspects of the Job - e.g. body mechanics, emergency response, activities of daily living
• Emotional Aspects of the Job - e.g. cultural competency, end-of-life care/grief, managing stress
• Complexity of Population Served - e.g. dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, understanding aging, physical and developmental disabilities
• Workplace Readiness & Professional Growth - e.g. communication skills, behaving professionally and ethically, documentation - delegation - reporting

Training Accessibility and Modalities Design

Applicants are encouraged to develop proposals that increase accessibility for workers including those that address barriers to access such as digital skills, transportation and childcare. Applicants are encouraged to offer one or more of the below training modalities:

• In-person trainings
• Asynchronous (self paced) virtual trainings
• Synchronous virtual trainings

Applicants with trainings in languages other than English and those that address the needs of historically underserved communities of workers and care recipients will be prioritized.

Will training program applicants be required to conduct outreach?

Yes. Applicants in the training category should outline their outreach strategy to engage the target workforce population in their training programs including:

• Use of existing networks to promote the trainings via trusted sources, including colleagues and community members
• Use of social media, email lists, flyers and more to reach the target workforce

Can an application include both recruitment and training?

Yes, applications can propose both a recruitment and training program. Projects proposing both recruitment and training will be prioritized. Applicants are encouraged to collaborate with partner organizations to propose projects that include both.

When are applications open?

The Request for Applications (RFA) is open. Apply now!

Will you be hosting webinars to provide more information?

Yes! We will be hosting webinars on July 17 and July 19, 2023.

When is the application deadline?

The application deadline is 11:59 PM PDT on August 11, 2023.

When do we find out if we were awarded a grant?

Grant awards will be announced by September 30, 2023. Further information will be sent to awardees about next steps.

What is the start date of the agreement?

After grants are awarded, the start date of agreements will be on a rolling basis starting in September 2023.

When will agreements end?

Agreements will end on May 15, 2024.

When and where will the answers to questions about the Caring4Cal Fund be posted?

First round of FAQs asked before and during the webinars will be posted on caring4cal.org on July 26 and will be updated on a rolling basis. All questions asked during the application window must be submitted by Aug 7. All final answers to Fund questions will be posted on the caring4cal.org website by August 9.

What is required of grantees during the program?

Throughout the award period, you will be asked to provide regular progress and financial reports, as well as learner lists and course session information. You will receive technical assistance throughout the project period.

What happens after the grant period?

This is a one-time funding opportunity intended to provide grantees with the resources and support for workforce development of California’s home- and community-based providers.

What if I have more questions?

Sign up to attend our webinars or please email fund@caring4cal.org with questions. For technical questions or questions about how the spreadsheet works, our team will respond by email. All other questions must be submitted by August 7 and will be answered publicly on the website.