Training Program FAQs

CalGrows is a program of the California Department of Aging for caregivers of older adults and people with disabilities. To participate in this program, caregivers can be in-home or communitybased. Both paid and unpaid caregivers can also participate in CalGrows. Note: unpaid caregivers do not qualify for the incentive. Merced County will recruit one hundred and twenty (120) caregivers currently employed and thirty (30) unpaid caregivers but provide home care with significant others or loved ones.

Caregivers who live in California such as:

• Home care aides
• Care coordinators or care managers
• Dementia care specialists
• Non-IHSS affiliated, personal care assistants
• Activities coordinators
• Transportation providers
• Unpaid friends & family caregivers
• Community health workers
• Other unlicensed care workers

Please note that you must have been in your position as a caregiver for at least two months prior to enrolling in the program.

Only paid caregivers qualify for incentive payments. Unpaid family and friend caregivers do not qualify for incentive payments.

Examples of home and community-based setting includes Adult Day Care, AIDS Waiver, Assisted Living Waiver, Caregiver Resource Centers, Community-Based Adult Services, Home and Community-Based Alternatives Waiver, Multipurpose Senior Services Program, Program for All Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), and Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly (RCFE).

There is no cost to participate. The CalGrows program is free to Merced County residents.

Yes, family caregivers are eligible for the CalGrows training but not eligible for the incentive payments.

Most IHSS providers are NOT eligible for CalGrows. There are a couple of exceptions:

• IHSS Providers who have a second paid job in a home-or community-based setting for at least 60 days as an unlicensed caregiver or certified home care aides (HCAs) are certified nursing assistants (CNAs).
• Employee of an organization under contract with a County to provide IHSS services.
• Note: IHSS providers can only receive incentives from Career Pathways or CalGrows, not both.

Yes. Employees of an organization under contract with a County to provide IHSS services do qualify. They must be paid role in home or community-based setting, in a non-institutional setting. They must be under contract and paid directly by the organization, not IHSS. They do not qualify for the IHSS Career Pathway program.

Yes. As long as they provide in-home or community care for more than 40 hours a month.

Yes. Unpaid family and friend caregivers can take all CalGrows courses for free and use CalGrows coaching services. Unpaid caregivers do not qualify for incentives.

No. They can take courses in the Career Builder program and receive those incentive payments. For more information, visit https://www.calgrows.org/.

Yes, but a caregiver may not claim incentive payments for those courses

Visit the CalGrows website www.calgrows.org/caregiver-trainings. Select the location and training available for Merced County. If you are having technical difficulties, contact Miranda Moreno for Merced County at (209) 930-0766 or [email protected] to help you register for the program.

Amie Marchini Home Care will conduct the training courses.

Merced Adult School
50 E. 20th Street
Merced, CA 95340

All training participants will need to check in at the office. Members from the Merced County Department of Workforce Investment (Career Coach) staff will be there to confirm your attendance and provide you with a campus badge per the Merced Adult School guidelines.

Amie Marchini Home Care
1468 East 27th Street
Merced, CA 95340

Each participant must complete one two hour session of body mechanics/lift training.

If you are eligible for CalGrows you will be assigned a Career Coach to help navigate you through training by sending you reminders (email, text, phone calls) of training location, upcoming courses, and other important information.

The courses will be offered during the weekdays with some possible courses on Saturdays.

During a normal training day the course will be held from 8:30am to 5pm with a 30-minute meal break with lunch provided and two 10-minute breaks.

Courses will take place in a classroom setting.

Please communicate with your assigned Career Coach. It may be possible for you to attend an alternative day to complete the course work.

Yes, each course varies, and tests might be administered during the course. However, they will not be graded and will serve as a tool to aid in learning.

Employed and eligible caregivers will qualify for the stipend from CalGrows after completing the required total training hours. Unpaid family caregivers do not qualify for the stipend.

The course content will be broken down into six instructional 8-hour days, plus an additional 2 hours of hands-on body mechanics and lift safety training. The total number of hours required is 50. Classes are offered so that you can complete one 8-hour instructional day each week.

For paid and eligible caregivers, yes. Completing the 50 hours of training is required to submit a claim in CalGrows in order to receive the incentive.

Unpaid family caregivers are not eligible for the incentive but will receive a certificate of completion for completing the training program.

The CalGrows program has two incentive tracks –

• Tack 1: Learn and Earn
• Track 2: Career Builder

Paid caregivers can earn up to $6,000. Please visit https://www.calgrows.org/ for more information.

Paid Direct Care Workers that work in a home or community based setting are eligible for the Learn and Earn Program. This program offers up to $2,500 in incentives. Only Learn and Earn courses qualify for these incentives.

• Level 1 – Learn: Up to $1,500 - $30 for each hour of training for a maximum of $1,500. Maximum of 50 hours of training.
• Level 2 – Learn Bonus: $500 – Claim 15 hours of training in Level 1: Learn and claim this one-time bonus
• Level 3 – Earn: $500 – Complete 15 hours of training in Level 1: Learn and work 3 months at 40 hrs/month

Note: If you are part of the CalGrows Employer Partnership program, you are not eligible for the Learn & Earn incentive track. You can review the List Of Employers that are part of the CEP program.

Paid Direct Care Workers that work in a home or community-based setting are eligible for the Career Builder Program. This program offers up to $3,500 in incentives. Only Career Builder courses qualify for these incentives.

• Level 1- Training: $500 for each 15 hours of coursework. The training level can be complete twice. Care providers can take multiple eligible courses to add up to 15 hours
• Level 2 – Practice: $500 – Completion of the Training Level + 40 hours of paid work in the last month.
• Level 3 – Pro: $2,000 - Completion of the Training & Practice Levels + 40 hours of paid work for an additional five months.

Important: CDA will be updating their system to process CalGrows stipend payments. Due to the transition to a new system, there may be a delay in the processing of payments. CDA is working hard to minimize any disruption. If your application has been received and is currently being reviewed, please realize that stipend payments may take up to 90 days of processing.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact CDA. You may email [email protected] or call (916) 931-1932.

Please note there is a limited amount of funding available for each incentive program. Once each program runs out of funding, incentives will no longer be available. Therefore, it is best to complete the incentive payments claim at https://app.bybeam.co/calgrows/eligibility. You will need proof of employment and proof of course completion.

*Unpaid family and friend caregivers do not qualify for the incentive

Your Career Coach will assist you in submitting your incentive claim. Keep in mind that you will need to provide proof of employment and proof of course completion. You will also need to share if the course is from Incentive Track 1: Learn and Earn or Tack 2: Career Builder. For more details, read How Do I Get Paid for Completing CalGrows Courses?

The information needed for incentive claims will depend on the program level in Learn and Earn or Career Builder. However, caregivers should prepare to provide proof of course completion and proof of employment, like paystubs or letters from employers. Paid caregivers will also need to provide tax information, including social security number or ITIN. Driver license, passport, visa or other legal documents do not qualify for tax documentation.

Amie Marchini Home Care will provide that a caregiver has completed coursework to your Career Coach. This proof will be used to submit an incentive claim at CalGrows.

Yes, any incentive payment earned from CalGrows is considered reportable income

Each paid caregiver should review how the incentive payment may impact the income limits of various programs and benefits. Merced County and the California Department of Aging and CalGrows are not able to provide specific advice regarding how payments may impact any individual’s public benefits program.

Yes. Please note, taxes will not be taken out of most incentive payments. Caregivers should set a side monies for taxes as needed.

Important: CDA will be updating their system to process CalGrows stipend payments. Due to the transition to a new system, there may be a delay in the processing of payments. CDA is working hard to minimize any disruption. If your application has been received and is currently being reviewed, please realize that stipend payments may take up to 90 days of processing.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact CDA. You may email [email protected] or call (916) 931-1932.

The Merced County Department of Workforce Investment could help with childcare to help you complete the training. Please indicate this in your application and additional information will be sent to you.

No. The program does not offer any academic credit or professional licensing. The program aims to assist caregivers develop their skills and grow their career to provide quality care

Please bring your identification for each training day. Bring a refillable water bottle and wear comfortable shoes. For the 2-hour hands-on training session, you must wear close-toed shoes

You can bring a cell phone or other electronic devices, but they are only allowed to be used during the 30-minute lunch and during the two 10-minute breaks.

Sign-in sheets will be utilized during the instructional time. The CalGrows instructor will monitor to determine that participants do not leave for large periods of time or early. If a need arises that causes you to be away from the class, please notify your assigned Career Coach.

Yes. You will need to contact your assigned Career Coach to reschedule another day/time to complete your training. Alternative times are limited, and absence could cause you to not be able to complete the program.

Yes. Some training days will be available in Spanish.

Yes. The instructor will provide make-up sessions for those who miss scheduled sessions. Information about those sessions will be available from your Career Coach.

Merced County aims to recruit 150 individuals – 120 paid and 30 unpaid caregivers. Registration will close once 150 participants qualified applicants have been accepted into CalGrows for Merced County.

Please contact Miranda Moreno at 930-0766 or [email protected]