Wisconsin Looks to UW-Green Bay for Help with Caregiver Crisis

The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay has been awarded a $865,010 grant from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) to help address the state’s caregiver crisis.

Currently, there is no training program in Wisconsin for those whose responsibilities are to supervise the 39,000 vital caregivers who work in supportive home care, adult daycare, respite care and related areas. UW-Green Bay’s health educators will develop a leadership training program designed to give managers the skills they need to increase retention of employees in this important health care field, ensuring older adults and those with disabilities receive the vital care they need.

“Our commitment to teach and train all those who want to learn goes beyond our undergraduate and graduate students,” said UW-Green Bay Chancellor Michael Alexander. “UW-Green Bay exists to solve the problems facing our communities. We are proud to play a role in addressing Wisconsin’s caregiver crisis through training and education. Our state’s older adults and those with disabilities are also our parents, grandparents, relatives and neighbors. They deserve the best care we can give them.” 

It is predicted that 250 supervisors will be trained through UW-Green Bay’s program, which will be available by summer 2023 and will provide credit and noncredit learning opportunities. The funding is part of a total of $17.3 million awarded to 69 organizations statewide to address the caregiver crisis. The grants are intended to strengthen the home and community-based services (HCBS) and support quality and innovation in the delivery of HCBS in Wisconsin.

To learn more about the management training program, please email Program Specialist Kerry Winkler at [email protected].