While the Partnership continues to fight for at least the status quo in the midst of the unraveling budget situation in the State House, the Working Groups are looking to the future by picking up their Phase Two Work.
As we reported in our January 10th post, Maine House Speaker Ryan Fecteau submitted The Maine Essential Care & Support Workforce Enhancement Act which includes six (6) key provisions that are the result of years of stakeholder engagement through this Partnership. Each working group’s primary recommendation is included, and beyond supporting the passage of this bill, the groups have non-legislative goals they want to accomplish. The following are summaries of what each working group hopes to accomplish during Phase 2:
Improving Credentialing & Training Working Group: The co-chairs of this group have been working with the Department of Health & Human Services’ team that has been and will continue meeting in order to help foster more participation in their work. You can read more about the Department’s efforts here:
- Universal Core Curriculum Presentation, January 2025: Details on the first step in creating a universal, portable, credentialing system – The Direct Service Worker (DSW), DSW 1 & DSW 2 to replace Personal Support Specialist (PSS) & Direct Service Professional (DSP)
- Health Workforce Initiatives, January 2025: Overview of the Department’s strategies and tactics to position Maine as a destination for health care workers
Beyond this, the working group would like to continue work on the following:
- To create a system that incentivizes job shadowing, mentorship, and on the job training, catalog what is already available and work to design and build a system to promote existing resources and create more opportunities.
- Continue to destigmatize this work. It requires skill, empathy, and commitment and needs to be valued as such.
- Build on the Maine Department of Labor’s “Day in the Life” videos. The Department has created four “Day in the Life” videos that they will make available free of charge to employers and educators. The goals of the working group are to be sure there is a system to continually market and improve these important videos. With turn-over rates close to 100% in many sectors, these videos help workers understand whether or not this work is for them before employers and workers invest significant time and energy in the training and orienting.
Utilizing Technology to Bridge the Care Gap Working Group: This working group includes many providers who have implemented innovative uses of a wide range of assistive technologies. Their Phase 1 recommendation is that the State designate a technology implementation lead and to produce a plan by October 15, 2026 with strong stakeholder involvement to advance the use of technology to assist in reducing the care gap that exists in Maine. During Phase 2, we are working to identify leaders within the Department of Health & Human Services to build understanding and support for this idea.
Increasing Wages & Benefits Working Group: During Phase 1, their #1 recommendation was to increase the labor portion of MaineCare reimbursement rates to 140% of the minimum wage. This provision is in the Speakers Workforce Bill; however, since the 125% law on the books has been gutted in the Governor’s Budget proposals, we will be working to restore it as well.
The working group Phase 2 goals include looking at innovative ways to help the workforce afford benefits such as health care, retirement, child care, transportation, and higher education.