July 05, 2017 State Agencies to Host Regional Health Care Provider Workforce SummitsFocus is to help businesses hire and train staff

Baton Rouge, La., Jul 05, 2017 - Hiring qualified workers has been a continuing challenge for health care businesses that provide home and community-based services. In response, the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) and the Louisiana Workforce Commission (LWC) will host a series of Workforce Summits in July to help providers who deliver services to individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities, and the aging population.

Providers of home and community-based waiver services, intermediate care facilities and the aging have expressed concerns with hiring direct support workers due to a statewide shortage of individuals willing to work in this healthcare industry. According to the American Network of Community Options and Resources or ANCOR, workforce shortages for this industry is a national public health crisis. 

Four regional summits have been developed to focus on workforce development services and resources to assist healthcare providers in recruiting direct support workers. Both agencies announced today the summits will be held in July.

Each Provider Workforce Summit will take place from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., on the following dates and locations:

• Tuesday, July 11, New Orleans: Jefferson Parish East Bank Regional Library, 4747 W. Napoleon Ave, Metairie
• Thursday, July 13, Lafayette/Lake Charles: Chenier Center Town Hall, 220 W. Willow St., Lafayette
• Friday, July 14, Alexandria: Pinecrest Supports & Service Center, Gymnasium, 100 Pinecrest Dr., Pineville
• Friday, July 28, Baton Rouge: Louisiana Department of Health’s Bienville Building, Conference Room 118, 628 North Fourth St., Baton Rouge

Summit Highlights

Tools and Resources – The Healthcare Provider Workforce Summits will highlight the various workforce development tools and resources offered by the Louisiana Workforce Commission, which providers can take advantage of to address their workforce needs.  

Online Business Services – Presentations will highlight the utilization of the Workforce Commission’s self-service system, HiRE, to orient them to the benefits of online tools such as, recruitment and placement services and connect them to their local American Job Centers where they can receive individualized assistance.

Training and Incentives – Attendees will learn how to craft the perfect job description to attract direct support workers and other staff that are needed to fill position in this healthcare industry, post job openings and search for potential job applicants. The summits will also highlight Workforce Commission’s employee training programs and available tax credits and incentives. Providers will also have an opportunity to participate in working round tables hosted by subject matter experts to gain further assistance, tour the LWC mobile unit for an interactive presentation of HiRE online tools.

The Summits are free and open to healthcare providers who deliver services to individuals with developmental disability and/or seniors who receive supports through home and community-based waiver services or intermediate care facilities from the Louisiana Department of Health’s Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities and the Office for Aging and Adult Services. These events will be of special interest to human resource professionals within these provider organizations.

The Louisiana Department of Health strives to protect and promote health statewide and to ensure access to medical, preventive and rehabilitative services for all state residents. To learn more about LDH, visit www.ldh.la.gov. For up-to-date health information, news and emergency updates, follow LDH's Twitter account, Facebook and blog.