May 1, 2026

(TRENTON) – Human Services’ Certified Home Health Aide Career Program, developed in collaboration with the John H. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development at Rutgers University, has certified more than 250 new Certified Home Health Aides (CHHAs), who will provide crucial support for older adults and individuals in need of home-based care. The initiative also led to increased participant confidence, professional growth, improved workforce readiness, and fewer financial and educational barriers to successful employment.

“This pilot project demonstrated that, with the right support, we can motivate individuals to enter this field.  Human Services will continue its efforts to support individuals in joining the home health care workforce, ensuring that residents who require care receive the quality support they deserve in our communities,” said Commissioner Stephen Cha.

Human Services developed the CHHA Capacity-Building Pilot Project to address critical workforce shortages within New Jersey’s home healthcare sector. Like many states, New Jersey’s CHHA workforce operates within broader structural conditions common to the home care industry, including relatively low wages, high turnover, certification processing timelines, and a decentralized labor market. These broader labor market dynamics shape both workforce entry and retention.

Human Services’ Division of Aging Services contracted with the John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development at Rutgers to design, implement, and evaluate the pilot programs. Collectively, the programs were designed to address persistent challenges in the CHHA labor pipeline by increasing training accessibility, supporting workforce retention, and fostering a more sustainable and professionally supported CHHA workforce across the state.

“The results across the three pilot programs show that targeted investment in training and support leads directly to workforce success. Certified Home Health Aides are essential to helping people with disabilities and older adults live full, independent lives in the community.

Growing and supporting the direct care workforce is an investment in New Jersey’s future and our aging population,” said Deputy Commissioner for Aging and Disability Services Kaylee McGuire.

The CHHA Capacity-Building Pilot Project consisted of three interrelated programs:

• Pilot 1: A CHHA Scholarship Program that connected successful applicants to CHHA trainers in the State and paid for the 76 hours of required training needed to become CHHAs. Participants received access to resources and online peer networking opportunities, as well as stipends to pay for additional costs such as transportation and childcare.
• Pilot 2: A CHHA Mentoring Program that, in addition to providing training, funding, and incentives as in Pilot 1, included a 12-week on-the-job mentoring program.
• Pilot 3: A Specialized Training Program that provided CHHAs with enhanced training in dementia care and mental health first aid, along with financial incentives to complete their training.

Listed below are the notable outcomes for each pilot:

Pilot 1 CHHA Scholarship Program Outcomes:

• 550 individuals were accepted into the Scholarship Program, of which, 425 completed the required training. Of those who completed the training, 256 were certified as home health aides, with another 128 currently pending approval of their certification.
• 140 participants were employed as CHHAs at the time of the program’s conclusion.
• Participants reported feeling well prepared for certification and entry into the workforce, citing clear instruction, flexibility in how they received trainings, and strong clinical support. They also emphasized that the scholarship removed a major financial barrier to entering the workforce. 

Pilot 2 CHHA Mentoring Program Outcomes:

• 25 mentors were trained as part of the program to support 57 newly-employed CHHAs who participated as mentees. Of those mentees, 42 completed the full 12 weeks of training.
• Mentees reported that the program served as a valuable source of guidance, fostered their confidence as a new CHHA, and strengthened their communication and leadership skills. 

Pilot 3 Specialized Training Program Outcomes:

• 95 participants completed the Mental Health First Aid training, and 247 participants completed the Dementia Care Training.
• Participants reported that the trainings strengthened their confidence, professional identity, and day-to-day caregiving practice.

“New Jersey’s older population is growing rapidly. The Division has made significant efforts to support people remaining in their homes and communities as they age. CHHAs are an important part of this effort. Continued investment in this sector can help ensure we have a strong workforce that can meet rising demand and help keep older New Jerseyans healthy,” said Louise Rush, Assistant Commissioner for the Division of Aging Services.

"The New Jersey Department of Human Services’ investment in the Certified Home Health Aide capacity‑building pilot demonstrates what is possible when government agencies invest in a vital workforce. The program trained hundreds to become Certified Home Health Aides, provided additional supports that trainees needed, and greatly expanded New Jersey’s care workforce. The Heldrich Center is grateful to the New Jersey Department of Human Services for funding this pilot and for its commitment to strengthening a workforce that is essential to the health of thousands of New Jersey’s residents,” said Carl Van Horn, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor and Director of the Heldrich Center for Workforce Development at Rutgers.

This project was part of a larger effort by the State to strengthen the home- and community-based services workforce, outlined in the New Jersey Direct Care Workforce Strategic Plan. Human Services developed this comprehensive roadmap to support, grow, and stabilize the workforce that provides essential care to older adults, individuals with disabilities, and residents with behavioral health needs.  Last year, the Department also partnered with an ad agency to launch a marketing campaign titled “Jobs That Care” to promote, raise awareness and encourage individuals to join the growing fields of direct support professionals and home health aides. To learn more about these career opportunities, visit JobsThatCare.NJ.Gov.

The Certified Home Health Aide Career Program is supported in part by the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award to the New Jersey Department of Human Services totaling $2.8 million. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by, CMS/HHS, or the U.S. Government.