Delaware News


Governor Carney Announces Workforce Support for Hospitals, Long-Term Care, and 24/7 State Facilities

Governor John Carney | Office of the Governor | Date Posted: Wednesday, October 13, 2021


American Rescue Plan - Governor Carney Announces Workforce Support for Hospitals, Long-Term Care, and 24/7 State Facilities. de.gov/rescueplan

More than $75M from American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) can fund recruitment and retention payments for workers

WILMINGTON, Del. – Governor John Carney on Wednesday announced more than $75 million in financial support for Delaware hospitals, long-term care facilities, and State of Delaware-operated 24/7 facilities. Funding can be used to make recruitment and retention payments to Delawareans working on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic in facilities that are facing significant staffing shortages.

The new support, which will help address potential staffing shortages in front line industries, is funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). ARPA was championed in Congress by members of Delaware’s congressional delegation — Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons, and Representative Lisa Blunt Rochester — and signed into law by President Joe Biden on March 11.

Visit de.gov/rescueplan to learn more about how the American Rescue Plan (ARPA) is helping in Delaware.

“This new funding from the American Rescue Plan will help Delaware hospitals, long-term care facilities and State of Delaware facilities keep workers who have been on the front lines of the COVID-19 crisis – and recruit qualified new workers into these critical roles,” said Governor Carney. “That’s exactly how this federal funding was meant to be used, and it will help these industries stabilize their workforces so we can continue fighting the COVID-19 pandemic at full strength. Most importantly, I want to thank our health care workers, emergency response personnel, and all those Delawareans who have gotten us through a difficult 19 months. Let’s make sure we’re all doing our part. Getting vaccinated is the best thing you can do to finally put an end to this pandemic. Find a vaccination provider near you by visiting de.gov/getmyvaccine.”

“As a nurse, I know how difficult it has been on our frontline health care workers as we have battled the COVID-19 pandemic. I want to thank all of our health care workers for their tireless effort and dedication to keep our families and communities healthy and safe every day,” said Lt. Governor Bethany Hall-Long. “This $75 million investment from the ARPA funding will support the workforce of our hospitals and long-term care facilities that continue to take care of Delawareans. Thank you to the federal Delegation for this additional recruitment and retention tool to ensure we have a robust and qualified healthcare workforce in Delaware.”

“Delaware’s frontline health care workers have been critical in keeping Delawareans safe and healthy throughout the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Sens. Carper, Coons and Congresswoman Blunt Rochester. “We applaud Governor Carney for allotting $75 million in funding from the American Rescue Plan Act, a bill your federal delegation voted to pass in March of this year, to fund hospitals, long-term care facilities, and state operated 24/7 facilities. This funding can be used for the recruitment and retention of health care staff throughout the state, a critical step to ensure that Delaware’s health care facilities have the staff necessary to continue their essential work.”

“We are grateful that the Governor is recognizing the tremendous burden COVID-19 response continues to visit upon our hospitals and health care facilities through provision of these funds,” said Wayne Smith, President & CEO of the Delaware Healthcare Association. “Having the needed amount of front line workers to care for all who access our facilities is not optional. This announcement is a great help and very much appreciated.”

““The pandemic triggered unprecedented challenges for long-term care facilities and the seniors that rely on this care,” said Cheryl Heiks, Executive Director of the Delaware Health Care Facilities Association. “Today’s announcement demonstrates the commitment of both the Governor and Delaware’s federal delegation to the importance of these facilities and the critical care they provide.”

The Delaware Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) on Tuesday announced a plan to use American Rescue Plan Act funds available to Medicaid programs to recruit and retain Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) who provide home and community-based services to Delawareans with disabilities. Under DHSS’ plan, new DSPs employed on or after May 1, 2021, and existing DSPs who were employed prior to April 30, 2021, would be eligible for a one-time $1,000 payment if they work a minimum of 25 hours a week.

Governor Carney, Lt. Governor Hall-Long and members of Delaware’s congressional delegation have recently announced several initiatives funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).

Last week, Governor Carney announced plans to invest $26.4 million in affordable housing in Wilmington, $50 million for jobs training programs statewide, and $50 million to build a modern Delaware Hospital for the Chronically Ill in Smyrna. 

In Bridgeville last month, Governor Carney announced a $110 million plan to provide universal, wired broadband access for all Delaware homes and businesses. Delaware is aiming to become the first state to close every “last mile” with wired, high-speed broadband.

Additionally, Governor Carney and Lt. Governor Hall-Long announced a $100 million Community Investment Recovery Fund to support major, nonprofit capital projects statewide. 

Click here for the Community Investment Recovery Fund application for nonprofits. 

Visit de.gov/rescueplan to learn more about how the American Rescue Plan (ARPA) is helping in Delaware.

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Governor Carney Announces Workforce Support for Hospitals, Long-Term Care, and 24/7 State Facilities

Governor John Carney | Office of the Governor | Date Posted: Wednesday, October 13, 2021


American Rescue Plan - Governor Carney Announces Workforce Support for Hospitals, Long-Term Care, and 24/7 State Facilities. de.gov/rescueplan

More than $75M from American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) can fund recruitment and retention payments for workers

WILMINGTON, Del. – Governor John Carney on Wednesday announced more than $75 million in financial support for Delaware hospitals, long-term care facilities, and State of Delaware-operated 24/7 facilities. Funding can be used to make recruitment and retention payments to Delawareans working on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic in facilities that are facing significant staffing shortages.

The new support, which will help address potential staffing shortages in front line industries, is funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). ARPA was championed in Congress by members of Delaware’s congressional delegation — Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons, and Representative Lisa Blunt Rochester — and signed into law by President Joe Biden on March 11.

Visit de.gov/rescueplan to learn more about how the American Rescue Plan (ARPA) is helping in Delaware.

“This new funding from the American Rescue Plan will help Delaware hospitals, long-term care facilities and State of Delaware facilities keep workers who have been on the front lines of the COVID-19 crisis – and recruit qualified new workers into these critical roles,” said Governor Carney. “That’s exactly how this federal funding was meant to be used, and it will help these industries stabilize their workforces so we can continue fighting the COVID-19 pandemic at full strength. Most importantly, I want to thank our health care workers, emergency response personnel, and all those Delawareans who have gotten us through a difficult 19 months. Let’s make sure we’re all doing our part. Getting vaccinated is the best thing you can do to finally put an end to this pandemic. Find a vaccination provider near you by visiting de.gov/getmyvaccine.”

“As a nurse, I know how difficult it has been on our frontline health care workers as we have battled the COVID-19 pandemic. I want to thank all of our health care workers for their tireless effort and dedication to keep our families and communities healthy and safe every day,” said Lt. Governor Bethany Hall-Long. “This $75 million investment from the ARPA funding will support the workforce of our hospitals and long-term care facilities that continue to take care of Delawareans. Thank you to the federal Delegation for this additional recruitment and retention tool to ensure we have a robust and qualified healthcare workforce in Delaware.”

“Delaware’s frontline health care workers have been critical in keeping Delawareans safe and healthy throughout the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Sens. Carper, Coons and Congresswoman Blunt Rochester. “We applaud Governor Carney for allotting $75 million in funding from the American Rescue Plan Act, a bill your federal delegation voted to pass in March of this year, to fund hospitals, long-term care facilities, and state operated 24/7 facilities. This funding can be used for the recruitment and retention of health care staff throughout the state, a critical step to ensure that Delaware’s health care facilities have the staff necessary to continue their essential work.”

“We are grateful that the Governor is recognizing the tremendous burden COVID-19 response continues to visit upon our hospitals and health care facilities through provision of these funds,” said Wayne Smith, President & CEO of the Delaware Healthcare Association. “Having the needed amount of front line workers to care for all who access our facilities is not optional. This announcement is a great help and very much appreciated.”

““The pandemic triggered unprecedented challenges for long-term care facilities and the seniors that rely on this care,” said Cheryl Heiks, Executive Director of the Delaware Health Care Facilities Association. “Today’s announcement demonstrates the commitment of both the Governor and Delaware’s federal delegation to the importance of these facilities and the critical care they provide.”

The Delaware Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) on Tuesday announced a plan to use American Rescue Plan Act funds available to Medicaid programs to recruit and retain Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) who provide home and community-based services to Delawareans with disabilities. Under DHSS’ plan, new DSPs employed on or after May 1, 2021, and existing DSPs who were employed prior to April 30, 2021, would be eligible for a one-time $1,000 payment if they work a minimum of 25 hours a week.

Governor Carney, Lt. Governor Hall-Long and members of Delaware’s congressional delegation have recently announced several initiatives funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).

Last week, Governor Carney announced plans to invest $26.4 million in affordable housing in Wilmington, $50 million for jobs training programs statewide, and $50 million to build a modern Delaware Hospital for the Chronically Ill in Smyrna. 

In Bridgeville last month, Governor Carney announced a $110 million plan to provide universal, wired broadband access for all Delaware homes and businesses. Delaware is aiming to become the first state to close every “last mile” with wired, high-speed broadband.

Additionally, Governor Carney and Lt. Governor Hall-Long announced a $100 million Community Investment Recovery Fund to support major, nonprofit capital projects statewide. 

Click here for the Community Investment Recovery Fund application for nonprofits. 

Visit de.gov/rescueplan to learn more about how the American Rescue Plan (ARPA) is helping in Delaware.

 ###

image_printPrint

Related Topics:  , , , , , , , ,


Graphic that represents delaware news on a mobile phone

Keep up to date by receiving a daily digest email, around noon, of current news release posts from state agencies on news.delaware.gov.

Here you can subscribe to future news updates.