The PCA College Service Corps (PCA CSC) Pilot Program is made possible thanks to the Margaret A. Cargill Foundation Fund of the Saint Paul and Minnesota Foundation and through direct legislation as a grant for this pilot to Metropolitan Center for Independent Living (MCIL) by the Minnesota Legislature through the Disability Services Division of the Minnesota Department of Human Services.
The idea for a PCA College Service Corps was among the many recommendations of the Minnesota Direct Care Recommendations Report approved in March of 2018 by the Governor’s Olmstead Subcabinet. MCIL is honored to realize this new program as among the first in the United States of America. As DHS transitions from the PCA program to the Community First Services and Supports program, MCIL has adapted the PCA College Service Corps to continue as the CFSS College Service Corps.
This PCA CSC Pilot serves as a vitally important way to recruit new individuals, specifically college students, into the PCA and CFSS workforce. This program also recruits adults who are assessed at 10 or more hours of PCA or CFSS assistance per day, does not have a responsible party/participant’s representative, and are currently enrolled in Minnesota’s direct care services whether the PCA Program or the Community First Services and Supports (CFSS).
Matching college students with individuals who rely upon direct care services provides students with a taxable bonus incentive award, paid work experience as a PCA, selecting program duration of 30-weeks, 20-weeks or 10-weeks; all that propels their professionalism, experiential learning and career development with mentoring curriculum support as well.
The PCA CSC allows individuals who rely on direct care support for daily living to:
- interview and select the student candidate
- welcome them to apply to the individual’s PCA Agency, CFSS Agency, or Financial Management Services (FMS) provider as a Personal Care Assistant or Support Worker during their time in the PCA College Service Corps.
Each of these entities administers the taxable bonus award on behalf of the college student in their direct care worker capacity in working with MCIL. The student’s employer of record depends on the program in which the individual receiving services is enrolled as stated below.
- In traditional PCA and the CFSS agency model, the agency is the employer.
- In PCA Choice, there is a joint employer relationship between the person and the agency.
- In the CFSS budget model, the person is the employer.
- An FMS is never the employer.
MCIL seeks to aspire to recruit 53 college students for the state grant and 35 individuals who rely upon direct care services. Thanks to the Margaret A. Cargill Foundation Fund grant, MCIL is also committed to pursue the recruitment of additional college students and individuals who rely upon direct care services within criteria as noted above, because the direct care crisis is severe, and we seek to do all we can to make a positive difference in addressing the crisis.
Among the outcomes of this Pilot is to assess scalability for program expansion for the PCA College Service Corps throughout Minnesota as a viable way to expand opportunities for college students and individuals who rely upon direct care services. We believe this program has merit to become a national program in advancing a culture of care that is transformative for the postsecondary sector that also increases direct care workers in advancing independent living for individuals who rely upon direct care service for daily living. It is our call to do our part to close the gap between people who need care with motivated college students seeking to assist them.
Student Personal Care Assistants
The pilot seeks to recruit college students to serve for one of three set time periods of ten, twenty, or thirty weeks. Student PCA Service Corps Members are required to work an average of ten hours per week as PCAs or CFSS Support Workers for adults who have been accepted to the PCA CSC Pilot Project.
Student PCA Service Corps Members also receive taxable Incentive Bonus Awards that will be structured as such:
- Student PCAs or Support Workers who commit to thirty weeks and 300 hours will be provided a total award of $4,500.
- Student PCAs or Support Workers who commit to twenty weeks and 200 hours will be provided a total award of $3,000.
- Student PCAs or Support Workers who commit to ten weeks and 100 hours will be provided a total award of $1,500.
- These awards are broken up and paid in three increments, after one third of the time and hour commitments are met. The first Incentive Bonus Award will be for 25% of the total award, the second 35%, and the third 40%.
The Incentive Bonus Awards are in addition to the earnings paid to the Student PCA or CFSS Support Worker by the PCA Agency, CFSS Agency, or FMS provider. They are designed as a supplementary recruitment tool and are meant to be complementary to the competitive wages already provided. The taxable Incentive Bonus Awards have zero restrictions on how and they can be spent, it is an award to be used at the Student PCA's or CFSS Worker's discretion.
Student PCA Service Corps Members will:
- be at least 18 years old and enrolled in an institution of higher learning.
- complete a PCA College Service Corps Application.
- provide documentation confirming current college enrollment. This can be a class schedule, enrollment letter, or current tuition statement.
- provide Proof of Enrollment in higher education.
- Be enrolled in a program of higher learning ranging from Certificate to PHD.
In addition to the financial benefits, Student PCA Service Corps Members:
- will have a more flexible part-time commitment that will allow them to focus on their studies.
- will receive training and gain valuable work experience and skills to be qualified for future employment.
- will have new professional experiences that might help with discernment of their occupational goals.
- interview with PCA Participants; they will be assisted by MCIL in finding the best match with an individual to provide care.
- receive ongoing mentoring sessions throughout their service time, provided by program leadership.
- (may be) able to utilize their time as a PCA as direct patient care hours if their educational goals include a program that requires them.
When the agreed upon commitment ends for the Student PCA Service Corps Member, the Student PCA or CFSS Support Worker and the Participant they serve are welcome to continue their employment relationship beyond the PCA CSC Pilot. Student PCAs and CFSS Support Workers would not be eligible to receive additional Incentive Bonus Awards but would continue earning an hourly wage.
Students interested in becoming a Student PCA Service Corps Member can apply by clicking Apply Now.
Participants
Adults who are welcome to apply:
- direct their own care.
- are assessed at ten or more hours of PCA or CFSS support per day.
- are currently enrolled in Minnesota’s PCA Program or Community First Services and Supports (CFSS) in pursuit of independent living.
- need assistance with critical supports, also known as Activities of Daily Living (ADLs).
- These include assistance with transferring, mobility, eating, toileting, bathing, positioning, range of motion, dressing, assistance with self-administered medications, help accessing environments and materials, and more, as indicated by the Participant's Support Plan.
The PCA CSC Pilot Project accepts individuals working with approved Minnesota PCA Agencies, CFSS Agencies, or FMS providers. Potential Participants may complete a short Application and an Agreement that outlines adherence to the PCA College Service Corps program.
Individuals seeking support from a Student PCA can apply by clicking Apply Now.
Personal Care Assistant Agencies, CFSS Agencies, and FMS Providers
Participant’s PCA Agencies, CFSS Agencies, and FMS providers are required to complete Agreements to participate in the PCA College Service Corps. In addition to their typical hiring, training, and ongoing support that they would provide to any employee; PCA Agencies, CFSS Agencies, and FMS providers are asked to confirm Student PCA or CFSS Support Worker hours completed so that taxable Incentive Bonus Award disbursements can be made through their organization.
Metropolitan Center for Independent Living
Metropolitan Center for Independent Living will:
- recruit college students to become Student PCA Service Corps Members.
- recruit adults assessed at ten or more hours of PCA or CFSS support per day who direct their own care to be PCA Service Corps Participants.
- facilitate introductions between interested and compatible Students and Participants for interviews.
- The PCA or CFSS Participant takes the lead in PCA CSC interviews with Student PCAs or CFSS Support Workers as a demonstrable means of a person-centered approach to PCA or CFSS support.
- provide the Incentive Bonus Awards to the PCA Agencies, CFSS Agencies, or FMS providers to be sent to the Student PCAs or CFSS Support Workers at appropriate times.
- oversee the PCA CSC Mentorship program in which Student PCA Service Corps members can rely on support from program leadership.
Additional Funding
The Minnesota State Legislature has awarded additional funding for the Personal Care Assistant College Service Corps Pilot Project.
Contact
Program Leader: Michelle Vrieze
Organizational Leader: Jesse Bethke Gomez
If you are interested in learning more or have additional questions, please email PCACSC@mcil-mn.org or call 651-646-8342.
This work was supported by the Department of Human Services – Disability Services Division.
