Davis Announces $25M Grant for Health Care Job Training

As part of his Aging with Dignity Initiative, Gov. Gray Davis (D) yesterday announced 12 grants totaling $25 million for regional partnerships to recruit, train and retain caregivers and health care professionals throughout the state. The recipients will help train individuals as certified nurse assistants, licensed psychiatric technicians and other health care industry staff. The programs are expected to last 18 months and train 5,000 workers. Davis said, "The purpose of these grants is to assist in developing the well-trained caregivers necessary to meet the growing needs of California's aging and disabled populations and the affected health care industry. ... [The grants] will also support professional development and career advancement into more highly skilled occupations for the working poor and other underemployed workers" (Office of the Governor release, 1/31). To view the list of grant recipients, go to the California home page at http://www.governor.ca.gov/state/govsite/gov_homepage.jsp.