Track 1: Basic Caregiving

Foundational Skills & Professional Standards

Scope of Training

Foundational Instruction: Acquire the essential clinical and ethical foundations of the caregiving profession.

Competency Development: Build the primary skills for professional home care, including:

  • Empathetic Connection

  • Interpersonal Communication

  • ADL Coordination

  • Home Safety & Risk Mitigation

  • Emergency Response

  • Infection Prevention

Workforce Justice Education

Cooperative Education

Professional Credentials to be Secured

Certificate of Completion: To be awarded upon graduation, verifying professional readiness and caregiving foundational skills training mastery.

California State Credentialing: Completion of the mandatory Home Care Aide (HCA) Registration with the California Department of Social Services.

Dual Certification: Achieve industry-recognized credentials from the Paraprofessional Healthcare Institute (PHI) and Alzheimer’s Los Angeles (AlzLA).

Career Growth

Career Readiness: Graduates are fully equipped for unsubsidized, high-road employment within the professional care sector.

Cooperative Integration: Become a Member-Owner of Vivid Life Home Care Cooperative.

Professional Progression: Successful completion provides the eligibility to advance to the Specialized Caregiver Track (Track 2) for further career growth.

Graduation Eligibility: Candidates must successfully complete all in-person instructional sessions and supplemental online coursework to qualify for graduation.

Program Overview:

  • Duration: 9 weeks 

  • Classes: 9 in-person and 9 online

  • Schedule: Thursdays (5 PM to 7 PM) and Saturdays (8 AM to 2 PM)

  • Hours: 72 hours classroom + 72 hours on-the-job training (144 Total Hours)

  • Stipend: $22.00 per hour

Eligibility Requirements:

Caring Workforce is committed to an equity-focused recruitment process, welcoming those dedicated to building a career in the care profession. To qualify for the program, applicants must meet the following criteria:

  • Residency & Age: Must be a resident of Los Angeles County and aged 18 or older.

  • Economic Status: Currently unemployed or earning $17.50/hour or less.

  • Pandemic Impact: Able to demonstrate a negative financial impact from COVID-19 (e.g., reduced income or work hours).

  • Experience Level: Open to both entry-level individuals and current registered care workers seeking certification.

  • Inclusive Eligibility: Open to all eligible applicants regardless of status; an SSN is not required for qualification.

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