Promote Economic Opportunity

Objectives and Strategies

Increase the capacity of state agencies and the Maryland Commission on Caregiving to adopt actions within the National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers.
Improve coordination between state-led caregiver support programs such as the National Family Caregiver Support Program, Kinship Care, and the Lifespan Respite Care Program, including through collaboration with the National Technical Assistance Center on Grandfamilies and Kinship Families and other technical assistance partners.
Explore the recommendations within the 2024 Together in Care initiative, including the adoption of a coordinated statewide training initiative for paid and unpaid caregivers.
Collaborate across state agencies to formulate policy that increases the opportunity for people to work more years with more flexibility, supporting family care across the lifespan.
Expand the reach of existing caregiver support programs to underserved populations through targeted and culturally appropriate outreach in collaboration with federal, state, and local partners.
Improve Maryland’s No Wrong Door access to information and supports for family caregivers.
Adopt policies for home- and community-based services and health care delivery that ensures the incorporation of caregivers in the care team, when appropriate.

Explore opportunities to address the recruitment and retention of direct care workers by providing a living wage and access to benefits.
Engage direct care workers as participating stakeholders in the design of relevant state policies to improve the quality of direct care careers.
Identify and implement career pathways focused on skills-based job opportunities for direct care workers to utilize past lay experience and credentialed certifications to enter or re-enter the workforce.
Explore the adoption of recommendations of the 2024 Together in Care Initiative by PHI, including the development of direct care worker registries.

Evaluate the impact of the paid and unpaid older workforce on Maryland’s economy.
Evaluate age- and retirement-related policies and requirements and identify opportunities for modernization.
Lead the effort to encourage Maryland employers to adopt age-inclusive policies and practices by implementing age-friendly employer certifications through the State of Maryland.
Improve coordination and collaboration between Area Agencies on Aging and American Jobs Centers in providing access to supportive services and employment supports, including the Senior Citizen Supportive Employment Program (SCSEP).
Support public- and private-sector employers in building their capacity to recruit, hire, and retain employees age 50 and over of all backgrounds and abilities.
Create pathways for workers age 40 and over to upskill, reskill, and pursue career changes to in-demand occupations, such as health care, education, and information technology.