The Missouri Veterans Commission has received a recruitment and retention grant to help bolster employment at the state's seven veterans homes.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' Assistance for Hiring and Retaining Nurses at State Homes grant allows for a one-time differential of $920.42 to be paid to all full-time senior support care assistants and support care assistants currently employed at the homes.
The grant also allows the same one-time differential to be paid to successful candidates hired into full-time senior support care assistant and support care assistant classifications from March 1 to July 1 this year.
The support care assistants are the backbone of the Missouri Veterans Homes Program, said Paul Kirchhoff, the executive director of the Missouri Veterans Commission.
"They serve as the boots on the ground when it comes to veterans' everyday care," Kirchhoff said. "We are proud to be able to offer this grant as a way to incentivize our staff to stay employed with us as well as welcome new staff into our homes."
The commission worked closely with the Missouri Office of Administration and its Personnel Advisory Board to seek approval for the differential and applied for the grant in August 2022. The commission received notice of the award in late January 2023.
During fiscal year 2022, the commission had a 55.2 percent vacancy rate for support care assistants and a 32 percent vacancy rate for senior support care assistants. At the same time, it had 104.8 percent turnover in support care assistants and 49.8 percent in senior support care assistants statewide.
High vacancy and turnover rates force the commission to request team members voluntarily fill shifts. And in many instances, the commission must require staff to fill in scheduling gaps in order to meet minimum staffing requirements.
Excessive voluntary and involuntary overtime contributes to staff burnout. The commission hopes the one-time differential provided by the federal grant will help retain existing staff and help recruit new nursing staff to reduce shortages.
In addition to the one-time differential, the commission offers a paid certified nursing assistant (CNA) training course. The training allows individuals interested in a healthcare career the opportunity to earn a paycheck while attaining their CNA certification at no cost.
The commission operates seven state veterans homes, five state veterans cemeteries, and the Veterans Services Program, through which accredited officers may provide counseling and assistance to veterans and their families.
For more information about Missouri Veterans Commission programs, call 573-751-3779 or visit mvc.dps.mo.gov.