Formative Evaluation of a Workforce Investment Organization to Provide Scaled Training for Home Health Aides Serving Managed Long-Term Care Plan Clients in New York State

As part of its Medicaid program restructuring, New York State funded 11 Workforce Investment Organizations (WIO) to support training initiatives for the long-term care workforce. Focusing on one WIO, this formative evaluation examined quality improvement training programs delivered to 11,163 Home Health Aides employed by home care agencies serving clients of Managed Long-Term Care plans. Results are presented from a thematic analysis of qualitative interviews with organizational and program stakeholders examining contextual factors influencing program objectives, implementation, barriers and facilitators, and perceived outcomes. Findings suggested that WIO training programs were implemented during a period of shifting organizational strategies alongside value-based payment reforms and challenges to aide recruitment and retention. Stakeholders appraised WIO training programs positively and valued program flexibility and facilitation of communication and collaboration between agencies and plans. However, delivery and implementation challenges existed, and industry-wide structural fragmentation led stakeholders to question the WIO's larger impact.

Automated summary

This study evaluated the WIO training programs in New York State and found that while the programs faced challenges due to organizational strategy shifts, payment reforms, and recruitment and retention issues, stakeholders had a positive appraisal of the programs. They valued the flexibility and facilitation of communication and collaboration between agencies and plans. However, there were still challenges in delivery and implementation, and stakeholders questioned the overall impact of the WIO due to industry-wide structural fragmentation.