The DCW Strategies Center offers a fast, flexible technical assistance (TA) option for states that need quick, focused help with challenges in their home and community-based services (HCBS) programs. This support is short-term — usually fewer than 20 hours over a period of 30 to 45 days — and connects state agencies with national experts who can help answer specific questions or solve a clearly defined problem related to finding, training, supporting, or keeping the HCBS direct care workforce.
This “on-demand TA” is a good fit for states that are just getting started, trying out new ideas, or deciding whether they want more in-depth support from the Strategies Center in the future.
Who Can Participate
- Any state or territory that is not already in one of the Strategies Center’s active TA programs
- One state agency (such as Medicaid, workforce, aging, education) or a small team from multiple state agencies
What States Receive
- Customized support from experts on the topic the state chooses
- Access to national partners and subject matter experts with experience in workforce, Medicaid, and aging/disability services
- A final product such as:
- An informational brief and resource list
- A summary of promising practices and examples from innovative state models
- A memo outlining strategic policy and program options
- A blueprint of actionable next steps to help the state continue to address the direct care workforce needs
Examples of State On-Demand TA Requests
Program Design
- Models for creating career ladders, career lattices, or competency-based credentials
- Examples of common core training curricula and portable credentials across HCBS direct care workforce and health/human service roles
- Strategies for expanding training, professional development, and retention efforts, especially in rural or similar underserved areas
Systems Alignment
- Guidance on how to use Medicaid and workforce development programmatic and funding flexibility to support DCW career pathway development, training, and apprenticeships
- Strategies for building statewide DCW data systems and data-sharing agreements to track pipeline trends, pay and benefits, retention, and worker well-being
- Examples of value-based payment models or rate-setting approaches that support worker advancement
Workforce Well-Being & Advancement
- Identification of mentorship, supervision, and peer-support models
- Information on how to include wage and benefit enhancements into provider reimbursement
- Development of return on investment (ROI) messaging for workforce investments
Why It Matters
On-demand TA helps states:
- Respond quickly to emerging workforce issues or policy opportunities
- Test new ideas of small pilots across agencies
- Build relationships with national experts and peers
- Strengthen their readiness for future participation in a traditional TA cohort
To Apply
Visit NCOA’s DCW webpage to complete a short questionnaire.