Maine is working to address workforce development and retention challenges for direct care and direct support workers. DHHS is collaborating with the Maine Department of Labor (DOL), the Maine Community College System (MCCS), Maine Department of Education (DOE) Adult Education and the University of Maine System to increase training initiatives and build a stronger workforce across the state of Maine.
Listed below are some of the current initiatives Maine is working on, as well as available resources for workforce development and retention. These will be updated as project funding becomes available and new Initiatives begin.
AAAA Reports
Efforts and Progress in Implementing the Recommendations of the Commission to Study Long-term Care Workforce Issues - The Commission to Study Long-term Care Workforce Issues was created by the Legislature and met in 2019, issuing its recommendations in January 2020. This requires the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to provide annual reports each year from 2022 to 2026 regarding the Department's efforts and progress in implementing the recommendations of the Commission. The Department has compiled these reports in collaboration with its partners at the Maine Department of Labor (DOL). Pursuant to PL 2021, c. 398, Section AAAA-7
Fourth Annual Report - 2024 (PDF)
Third Annual Report - 2023 (PDF)
Career Navigation and Job Listings
Direct Care Workforce Training and Certification Curriculum Development
The Office of Aging and Disability Services (OADS) and other DHHS partners are working to establish a streamlined curricula and training requirements to ensure competency in Maine’s direct care workforce.
The goal is to build a comprehensive and accessible training and certification system that would enable career progression, specialization, and cross-training with portable credentials to build a stable workforce with the tools and flexibility necessary to meet the challenges of adults who need long term services and supports.
The curriculum has been reviewed by national and local subject matter experts, area providers and interested parties. We are currently working to translate training into American Sign Language (ASL) and the top 5 new Mainer languages. The Department’s goal is to launch the Core Curriculum for direct service workings in the second half of 2025.
Home and Community Based (HCBS) Workforce Marketing
The 
Careers with Purpose marketing campaign was launched in July 2024 to build on the successes demonstrated in the Caring for ME campaign. DHHS, in partnership with Maine DOL, launched the Careers with Purpose marketing campaign to recruit and retain direct service workers in aging, intellectual disability, brain injury, physical disability, and mental health. The campaign created a new website and new videos which spotlight home and community based (HCBS) job opportunities, workers, and the people they serve across the state. Ads and future campaign efforts will expand to include opportunities in behavioral health and rural provider roles.
This project is part of a larger effort by the DOL, DHHS, and DOE to recruit and retain more workers in LTSS positions for both home and community-based frontline workers.
CareerCenter Consultants: Healthcare Careers
The Department of Labor has two CareerCenter Consultants specializing in connecting jobseekers to training and job opportunities in the healthcare sector. CareerCenter staff assist workers in finding healthcare apprenticeships, earn-while-you-learn programs, free trainings, and/or jobs based upon the needs and preferences of the customer.
An update on Maine 9817 HCBS Improvement plan projects can be found here. While some projects have been completed, others are in the final stages as the FMAP funding expires June 30.
Affordable Training
Healthcare Training for ME is a statewide collaboration of education institutions and government agency partners to support recruitment and retention of Maine’s healthcare workers. The website is designed to help both employers and jobseekers find training to meet the needs of the workforce and offers connections to funding that can support training needs like the Maine Workforce Development Compact with the Maine Community College System.
FAME (Finance Authority of Maine) helps Mainers plan, save, and pay for education through various financial aid programs including scholarships, grants, tuition waivers, and healthcare provider loan repayment programs. FAME supports learners by making higher education more affordable.
Maine Community College System Workforce Training invests in workforce training programs for workers, students, and employers. Training is grant-funded and usually free for the trainee.
University of Maine System Workforce Development: Serves employers, communities, and learners to prepare for workforce training needs.
DOE Career and Technical Education: Career and Technical Education (CTE) offers in-depth trainings, applied learning opportunities, and career exploration pathways to prepare a workforce.
Additional Reports/Presentations
IDD Direct Service Worker Curriculum Partner Meeting | Presentation (PDF)
PSS Direct Service Worker Curriculum Partner Meeting | Presentation (PDF)