Incentives for college students proposed as way to help reduce personal care workforce shortage

There are about 13,000 personal care assistant slots available across the state, and the historically lower-paid field is struggling to attract workers.

The need is particularly acute for people seeking help staying in their homes, and who don’t have the resources to compete for increasingly in-demand personal care workers.

Rep. Ginny Klevorn (DFL-Plymouth) has an idea to help: creation of a service corps for college students to work as personal care assistants.

“It is time to enlighten a whole new generation about the possibility of doing service this way while getting their college degree,” she said.

Establishment of a pilot program was held over by the House Human Services Finance and Policy Committee Wednesday for possible omnibus bill inclusion.

HF338, as amended, would require HealthForce Minnesota at Winona State University to establish a project to create financial incentives, such as tuition forgiveness or scholarships, for postsecondary students to work as personal care assistants and direct support professionals. At least one project must be set at a metro-area school and one in Greater Minnesota.

The bill would appropriate onetime funding of $500,000 from the General Fund in fiscal year 2023 to establish the program.

A direct care service corps is among recommendations to increase the workforce included in Olmstead Subcabinet Cross-Agency Direct Care and Support Workforce Shortage Working Group workplan.

Though there were discussions about the plan last year, Rep. Tony Albright (R-Prior Lake) had hoped for more details about specific goals, metrics and scope for the pilot program.

Rep. Kristin Robbins (R-Maple Grove) has seen several instances of college students being recruited into the field, and wonders if the service corps is duplicative or if resources should go toward existing programs.

Not all personal care assistants do the same work, Klevorn replied. People requested in the bill would need to be trained to handle profound, life-threatening health issues.

The bill’s companion, SF111, sponsored by Sen. Greg Clausen (DFL-Apple Valley), awaits action by the Senate Higher Education Finance and Policy Committee.