News

State Surpasses Goal of Recruiting 1,000 Certified Nursing Assistants

On March 31, 2022 by Lori Meyer

As long-term care settings face staffing shortages throughout the state, Governor Walz set a goal in Dec. 2021 to recruit and train 1,000 new certified nursing assistants (CNAs) through the Next Generation Nursing Assistant initiative. On Tuesday, Governor Walz joined CNAs and other health care professionals at St. Paul College to announce the initiative surpassed its goal.

ICYMI: Governor Releases Updated Budget Proposal

On March 24, 2022 by Jeff Bostic

Last week, Governor Tim Walz released an updated supplemental budget that proposes to use the state’s more than $9 billion in general fund surplus. The Governor's proposed budget serves as a negotiating position in final budget conversations. Legislators in the House and Senate majorities will also advance their budget proposals in the upcoming weeks.

LTC Imperative Workforce Bill to be Heard in House Committee Tomorrow

On March 24, 2022 by Erin Huppert

Tomorrow, Friday, March 25, critical legislation being advanced by LeadingAge Minnesota and our LTC Imperative partner is scheduled to be heard in the House Human Service Finance and Policy Committee.

What You Should Know About the J-1 Visa for Hiring Workers

On February 24, 2022 by LeadingAge

Aging services communities looking to build a pipeline of foreign workers hired as trainees and specialists might be interested in hiring long-term care workers through the J-1 visa exchange visitor program.

Next Generation Nursing Assistant Training Program Advances

On February 17, 2022 by Lori Meyer

The Next Generation Nursing Assistant Training Program has successfully recruited over 1000 individuals into its no-cost training programs throughout the state. Providers should begin to position themselves to connect with students as they complete their training in the upcoming weeks.

DHS Postpones Transition to Fingerprint-Based Background Studies for MDH-Licensed Providers

On January 27, 2022 by Jonathan Lips

The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) has postponed the Wednesday, Feb. 2, transition date for Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) providers to return to fingerprint-based background studies.

HCBS Grant Applications Open Now

On January 13, 2022 by Jenna Kellerman

A request for proposals for the Home and Community Based (HCBS) Scholarship Grant is currently open, with applications due on Jan. 31. This grant is offered through the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), Office of Rural Health and Primary Care. You can find the HCBS Scholarship Grant details, including the RFP, on the MDH website.

Jan. 30 Ends CMP Grant Application to Retain Staff

On January 13, 2022 by Jenna Kellerman

Care centers have access to an engagement, retention, and leadership building platform for free through a grant for Align’s Employee Engagement Solution. The final grant window closes on Jan. 30. Download a webinar to learn more about the application process here.

LeadingAge Minnesota’s Jenna Kellerman to Join LeadingAge Team

On January 6, 2022 by Lori Meyer

Jenna Kellerman, LeadingAge Minnesota's Director of Workforce Solutions, has accepted a position at LeadingAge, our national partner based in Washington, DC. In her new role as Workforce Strategy and Development Director, she will apply her many talents to impact the long-term care workforce at a national level and tackle federal barriers and solutions that will benefit all states.

MDH Discusses Revised CDC Guidance: Return to Work, Expanded Staffing Strategies

On December 30, 2021 by Kari Everson

On the Minnesota Department of Health’s (MDH) long-term care call this week, the Department discussed the updated CDC guidance released on Dec. 23. It appears the CDC guidance will be adopted for our settings. MDH reported it is the intention of CMS to revise the current memos to be in alignment with this guidance. The publication timeline for updated CMS memo(s) is unknown.

CMP Grant Application to Retain Staff Ends Jan. 30

On December 23, 2021 by Jenna Kellerman

Care centers have access to an engagement, retention, and leadership building platform for free through a grant for Align’s Employee Engagement Solution. The final grant window closes on Jan. 30. Previous messages indicated that subsequent grant cycles would open over the next two years; however, this will be the last opportunity.

HCBS Grant Applications Open

On December 23, 2021 by Jenna Kellerman

The latest Request for Proposal for the Home and Community Based (HCBS) Scholarship Grant is currently open, with applications due on Jan. 31. This grant is offered through the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), Office of Rural Health and Primary Care. You can find the HCBS Scholarship Grant details, including the RFP, on the MDH website.

Work Underway to Implement 1000+ New CNA Pipeline Initiative

On December 23, 2021 by Jenna Kellerman

Gov. Tim Walz announced a new initiative to recruit, train, and deploy at least 1,000 new certified nursing assistants for Minnesota long-term care facilities experiencing staffing shortages by the end of January. LeadingAge Minnesota and our Long-Term Care Imperative played a critical role in advocating for this initiative.

Resource Roundup: Emergency Staffing Resources

On December 23, 2021 by Kari Everson

You have various emergency staffing resources available should you need to utilize them during the holidays.

This time of year, your senior care communities are full of fun and festivity as family and friends celebrate with the residents you serve. While joyous, vigilance is essential; the increase in visitors during this period of high transition and increased prevalence of the Omicron variant poses potential complications.

April 6 Deadline for HCBS and LALD Grant Applications

On December 16, 2021 by Jenna Kellerman

The latest Request for Proposal for the Home and Community Based (HCBS) Scholarship Grant will be released on Dec. 20. Applications are due on Jan. 31, 2022. This grant is offered through the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), Office of Rural Health and Primary Care. You can find the HCBS Scholarship Grant details on the MDH website.

DHS Puts Out Guidance on Care Center Staff Bonuses

On December 16, 2021 by Jeff Bostic

$50 million in American Rescue Plan funding will be sent to care centers soon to provide retention and recruitment bonuses for employees. Although the initial announcement indicated the money would arrive in December, the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) plans to send the funding out on the Jan. 4 remittance advice due to red tape within the agency. Each care center will receive $10.97 times their number of Medicaid resident days on the 2020 cost report.

National Guard Deployment to Nursing Homes Begins This Week

On December 9, 2021 by Kari Everson

Starting this week, Minnesota National Guard teams arrived in selected nursing homes to fill staffing needs. On Nov. 22, 2021, Gov. Tim Walz announced an emergency relief package for nursing homes that included a plan to deploy 400 national guard soldiers in small teams to nursing homes that have crisis staffing needs. Starting this week, teams arrived in selected nursing homes to fill staffing needs.

1000+ New CNAs: State Launches New Pipeline Initiative to Help Alleviate Workforce Concerns

On December 9, 2021 by Jenna Kellerman

This week, Gov. Tim Walz announced a new initiative to recruit, train, and deploy at least 1,000 new certified nursing assistants for Minnesota long-term care facilities experiencing staffing shortages by the end of January. LeadingAge Minnesota and our Long-Term Care Imperative played a critical role in advocating for this initiative.

American Rescue Plan Funds to be Sent to Care Centers to Fund Bonuses

On December 2, 2021 by Jeff Bostic

The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) is developing plans to distribute the $50 million in American Rescue Plan funds to care centers after an announcement from Gov. Walz last week. This funding is to provide recruitment and retention bonuses to staff when staffing shortages are having a significant impact on care centers statewide. The Long-Term Care Imperative is pleased that the Administration has heard our workforce concerns and is taking steps to address that problem.

Ending Soon: Nov. 23 Deadline for CMP Grant Application to Retain Staff

On November 11, 2021 by Jenna Kellerman

Care centers have access to an engagement, retention, and leadership building platform for free through a grant for Align’s Employee Engagement Solution. The current grant window closes on Nov. 23. Previous messages indicated that subsequent grant cycles would open over the next two years; however, applications cycles will be limited and will likely end in early 2022. If you plan to apply in future application cycles, please plan accordingly.