Caregiving Council
Overview
Recognizing the importance of increasing its resilient caregiver workforce, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and North Carolina Department of Commerce convened a Caregiving Workforce Strategic Leadership Council (Caregiving Council) to generate solutions for strengthening the state’s Nursing, Behavioral Health, and Direct Care workforce. The Caregiving Council launched in early 2023 and released an inaugural report in 2024, identifying strategic actions for state agencies.
The Center’s Role
Recognizing the need for long-term persistence in these efforts, the Caregiving Council identified the NC Center on the Workforce for Health as a key partner to drive implementation of Caregiving Council recommendations. The ongoing work of organizing state-level, public sector action on health workforce needs will live as an initiative of the Center with the Caregiving Council providing direction and commitment to collaborative action.
Our Focus Areas
Nursing
With approximately 153,000 RNs and 23,000 LPNs, North Carolina boasts a substantial nursing workforce, however it faces estimated shortages of 12,500 RNs and 5,000 LPNs by 2033. This shortage spans multiple regions and health care settings, making it imperative to address the critical need for nursing professionals.
Behavioral Health
The state’s mental health landscape underscores the urgency of focusing on Behavioral Health. A staggering 94 out of North Carolina’s 100 counties are designated as mental health professional shortage areas. Addressing this issue is vital to ensure comprehensive mental health support for North Carolinians.
Direct Care
National research projects that North Carolina will have more than 186,000 direct care job openings between 2018 and 2028. Most of these openings are created by vacancies arising as current workers transition careers or exit the workforce. These projections emphasize the urgent need for the essential care provided by direct care workers.
Leadership Council
2024 Roadmap to Strengthen North Carolina’s Caregiving Workforce
The Caregiving Council published its inaugural report, “Roadmap to Strengthen North Carolina’s Caregiving Workforce,” in January 2024. The Roadmap details several actions for state agencies to take to strengthen the health workforce in nursing, behavioral health, and direct care.
1. Assess Goals and Opportunities
The North Carolina Caregiving Workforce Strategic Leadership Council’s assemble caregiving workforce experts from governmental agencies, educational institutions, and organizations. The group met quarterly for over a year to review goals, research, and the working group findings so as to advise and prioritize key opportunities for the final recommendations.
2. Ideate Through Collaboration
Working groups representing the three focus areas- Nursing, Behavioral Health, and Direct Care- met five times to discuss existing solutions and identify further opportunities to strengthen recruitment, development, and retention of the workforce through updated policies, programs, resources, and communications. The working groups presented these solutions to the Council.
3. Develop Strategic Recommendations
The Council reviewed the draft recommendations and report in November 2023 to share final reflections and input. The report was finalized by Deloitte Consulting, which facilitated the Council meetings and working groups throughout the process. The report was prepared for launch in January 2024.
Direct Care
Learn More About Direct Care Opportunities
DHHS launched the “You’re Needed” campaign to raise awareness about careers in Direct Care.