The Heldrich Center is developing and implementing a career training program aimed at expanding the Certified Home Health Aide (CHHA) workforce in New Jersey. The program will provide training to become a CHHA, a 12-week on-the-job mentoring period, and specialized training in dementia care and mental health first aid.

In July 2024, the project launched a program partner application process involving a two-part application and a site visit. Ultimately, project staff identified 12 home care agencies to serve as program partners.

In preparation for the mentoring program, the project conducted a peer mentoring train-the-trainer session in October 2024. The objective is to identify experienced CHHAs to become mentors and train 25 mentors for the program by the end of 2024.

Additionally, a program website has been developed for student outreach, pending approval by the project sponsors, the New Jersey Department of Human Services Division of Aging Services and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The site is expected to launch by February 2025. The goal is to start collecting student applications in the coming months.