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Several times a year, the Vashon Care Network (VCN) is offers full scholarships through an application and selection process to Islander caregivers to cover the cost of training to become a Home Care Aide (HCA) certified by the State of Washington.  A panel considers the applications and selects 1 to 5 applicants through a careful process based on criteria for caregiving success (see "Candidate Qualifications" below) 

 

A certified Home Care Aide can work as a caregiver, at a nursing or assisted living facility, at an adult family home or as an Independent Provider (IP) in the homes of families who have been approved for state aid under the Washington COPES program[1].  

 

Not only does the training provide a strong educational and skills foundation for caregivers, but the certification is essential in meeting the care needs of low-income families who qualify for state-funded caregiving assistance. The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS), which pays for in-home care for individuals who qualify, requires that certification.  Here on Vashon, there is a shortage of qualified HCAs. This means that even if a low-income family qualifies for COPES aid for a loved one at home, they may have a hard time finding a qualified caregiver.  Private care is often prohibitively expensive.

 

The HCA training can be a springboard to a career in healthcare -- a short further training leads to certification as a CNA (certified nursing assistant), and provides the basis for further training in the nursing profession and other healthcare fields.

 

 

[1] COPES is a state program that provides comprehensive care management and helps pay for personal care, home health care, transportation and other services for older adults in their home.