Demand for health care workers is increasing and is expected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations from 2022 to 2032. There are many well-paying jobs in the health care sector. Still, many entry-level jobs do not pay well. Home health aides and certified nursing assistants (CNAs), for example, made an average of about $36,000 in 2022 despite high demand.
To address this issue, the Health Profession Opportunity Grants (HPOG) Program provided education and training to Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) recipients and other adults with low incomes, focusing on health care occupations expected to experience labor shortages or high demand. The program encouraged grantees to use a “career pathways” approach, to help participants advance in their careers.
The program’s evaluation, overseen by the Office of Planning, Research & Evaluation, was led by Abt Associates and conducted by the Urban Institute and other research organizations.
The evaluation includes four studies:
- a randomized controlled trial evaluation of program impacts
- an implementation study
- a descriptive outcomes study
- a systems study of the partnerships formed to carry out HPOG programs
Key findings and recommendations from this research can guide future programs, health care education and training practices, employment strategies, and individual decisions on pursuing health care training.
For more information, visit the Administration for Children and Families’ HPOG project page.
