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Innovative program offers college students career development, a chance to make meaningful connections, and play a vital role in meeting critical community needs

ST. PAUL. MN (Oct. 7, 2024) — As Minnesota and states nationwide face an urgent direct care crisis with a growing Personal Care Assistants (PCA) job gap to meet the needs of people who rely on PCAs for daily living, a new program holds promise in bringing together higher education and the disabilities communities in advancing a culture of care for profound, long-lasting solutions. The PCA College Service Corps offers a path for college students to strengthen their professional credentials, develop personal bonds with members of the disability community, earn a livable wage, and receive a (taxable) bonus incentive award, all while playing a pivotal role in addressing the critical need for direct care providers in our communities.

The PCA College Service Corps, facilitated by the Metropolitan Center for Independent Living (MCIL), is open to students 18 or older currently enrolled in post-secondary education in Minnesota. Students can commit to ten-, twenty-, or thirty-week options, spending an average of 10 hours per week working as a Personal Care Assistant. Upon approval of their application, students are matched with Participants who are part of the Minnesota PCA program, are assessed at 10 or more hours of PCA assistance per day, direct their own care and are accepted also into the PCA College Service Corps program. Once a match is made, the student is introduced to the Participant’s PCA provider and is hired directly by their agency. Training, guidance, and mentoring are provided. In addition to their competitive hourly wage, students can earn between $1,500 and $4,500 as a (taxable) incentive bonus award, depending on their level of program participation. The program is funded by the State of Minnesota and the Margaret A. Cargill Foundation Fund of the Saint Paul and Minnesota Foundation.

“We are extremely pleased with the initial implementation of the PCA College Service Corps and thrilled to learn of several post-secondary institutions who are assessing how to offer college credits for the experiential learning offered to their students who seek to participate in the College Service Corps program,” said MCIL Executive Director Jesse Bethke Gomez, MMA. “This groundbreaking program provides a sustainable, scalable solution to address the dire need for direct care services, not only in Minnesota, but it can be replicated across the country.” Bethke Gomez continued, “The PCA CSC offers students flexible work hours, training and valued experiential learning, camaraderie with fellow program participants, and the chance to forge deep personal relationships with those they serve. We are moved by the students who are heeding the call to embrace a ‘culture of care,’ a shared commitment to the common good, and the chance to make a difference in others’ lives and our community. We are deeply grateful to the colleges and universities for taking a leadership role in advancing a ‘culture of care’ and promoting this program on their campuses in support of people with disabilities who rely upon PCAs.”

“Disability offices and campus partners can promote the availability of the PCA College Service Corps to students with disabilities and to students who wish to serve as PCAs,” said Enjie Hall, University of Minnesota Director, Disability Resource Center Twin Cities and ADA Coordinator, Office for Equity and Diversity. “The program directly addresses the need for personal care support, which will benefit students at the U of M or other institutions who rely on PCA services to participate in campus life more fully. Students who serve as PCAs gain knowledge and valuable experience in implementing accessible and equitable care solutions that support independence. It offers students at U of M and other educational institutions a chance to gain meaningful, paid experience that not only helps them develop professionally but also reinforces values of inclusion and community engagement.”

Participants who receive PCA College Service Corp services can attest to the importance of this program and its impact. Sam D., a recipient of PCA services, shared, “Besides helping me meet my basic needs, they also play an integral part in my life by assisting me to be able to live an active, healthy, fulfilling life, regardless of my disability. Without the assistance of a PCA, I wouldn’t be able to work, get to my medical appointments, and continue to live in the community instead of a facility or group home.” Sam added, “Due to the crisis in finding and retaining PCAs, people in the disability community have been forced to move into group homes and long-term care facilities. Even worse than being forced to live in a different setting, there have been several cases of individuals passing away due to the inability to find caregivers or from lack of caregiver support, leading to additional health complications.  This is a civil rights issue, as all individuals should be allowed to live in the setting of their choice, but to do so, those in the disability community need the opportunity to receive consistent support from caregivers. The critical staffing shortage in caregivers continues to grow, and unless innovative solutions like the PCA College Service Corps are explored, the trend will continue.”

Applications are now being accepted for the PCA College Service Corps. Students interested in submitting an application or learning more about this important program will find more information on the MCIL website.

This work was supported by the Department of Human Services – Disability Services Division.