HCBS Workforce Recruitment and Retention

Older woman with CNA

The pandemic has exacerbated challenges in meeting consumer demand for home and community-based services (HCBS) due to workforce shortages.  To help meet these challenges, the Rhode Island Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) is dedicating approximately $57 million in funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (APRA) to increase compensation to direct service workers in our home and community-based workforce.

The goals of this program are to:

  • Increase our ability to meet Medicaid consumer needs for HCBS services
  • Increase the number of HCBS direct care workers and licensed health professionals actively providing frontline services
  • Improve retention rates for HCBS staff
  • Reduce vacancy rates for HCBS staff