Center for Caregiver Advancement

What Center for Caregiver Advancement does

The Center for Caregiver Advancement (CCA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2000 in Los Angeles, California, that delivers free, evidence-based caregiver training programs to California's In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) providers and SEIU Local 2015-represented nursing home workers. CCA's core product surface comprises two parallel training portfolios: an IHSS track covering Caregiving Essentials, Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias, Emergency and Disaster Readiness, and condition-specific modules (autism, diabetes, heart disease, traumatic brain injury); and a skilled-nursing track spanning CNA training, LVN apprenticeship pathways, restorative nurse assistant certification, and continuing education. Training is delivered via online self-paced courses and live Zoom instructor-led classes in eight languages (English, Spanish, Korean, Cantonese, Mandarin, Vietnamese, Armenian, Russian), with stipends and earn-while-you-learn apprenticeship models supporting student retention.

CCA's business model is funded primarily through government grants — most notably cumulative $29 million in High Road Training Partnership (HRTP) grants from the California Workforce Development Board between 2022 and 2025 — supplemented by health plan contracts with L.A. Care, BlueShield of California, Health Net, and Alameda Alliance for Health, a Taft-Hartley Education Fund administered for SEIU Local 2015 nursing home workers, and philanthropic grants from the California Community Foundation and LA2050. All training is offered free to eligible caregivers, so the organization has effectively no tuition revenue and operates as a workforce-development intermediary between state funders, managed care plans, county public authorities, and the caregiver workforce. Go-to-market relies on institutional partnerships (unions, public authorities, health plans, skilled nursing employers) rather than consumer marketing, though the organization is increasingly investing in brand-building via the inaugural California Caregiver of the Year Awards (March 2026).

The organization is differentiated by a 25-year curriculum development track, peer-reviewed validation of training impact (up to 46% reduction in ER visits and hospitalizations, 40% average knowledge gain, 7–12% retention lift), and unique research partnerships with UCSF, UCLA, UC Irvine, and MIT's J-PAL — the latter conducting the first-ever randomized controlled trial on IHSS caregiver training. CCA has trained over 40,000 caregivers across California with a course completion rate above 90%, and serves as a designated provider under the state's IHSS Career Pathways Program.

Name

Center for Caregiver Advancement

Legal name

Center for Caregiver Advancement

Website

https://advancecaregivers.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Center for Caregiver Advancement is a Los Angeles-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2000 that delivers free, multilingual caregiver training in California to IHSS home-care providers and SEIU Local 2015 nursing home workers, funded primarily by state workforce grants and health plan contracts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Healthcare Workforce Training

NAICS

Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Home Health Aide (HHA) & Personal Care Aide (PCA) (EDAOAJAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Nursing Assistant (CNA) & Patient Care Technician (PCT) (EDAOAJAB)

Keywords

• Caregiver training programs
• In-home supportive services
• Certified nursing assistant training
• Healthcare workforce development
• Continuing education nursing

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Grants: Primary funding from California Workforce Development Board (CWDB) High Road Training Partnership grants including $14M for CNA/LVN apprenticeship program and $10M for San Bernardino County training expansion. Also received CDPH grants for Alzheimer's training.
2. Foundation & Philanthropic Grants: Received $100,000 from California Community Foundation for Emergency and Disaster Readiness course, and $75K from LA2050 for emergency training programs.
3. Health Plan Contracts: First-in-the-nation agreements with health plans (L.A. Care, BlueShield of California, Health Net) to provide caregiver training as contracted services.
4. Education Fund (Taft-Hartley): Taft-Hartley training and trust fund established for nursing home workers of SEIU Local 2015, operated and administered by CCA as a benefit of union collective bargaining agreements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

CCA operates as California's primary free caregiver training organization, delivering evidence-based, multilingual (8 languages) training programs to two core populations: In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) providers and nursing home workers affiliated with SEIU Local 2015. Its portfolio spans IHSS Caregiving Essentials, Alzheimer's & dementia care, emergency and disaster preparedness, condition-specific courses (autism, diabetes, heart disease, TBI), a CNA/LVN Registered Apprenticeship Program, and continuing education certifications, all offered at no cost to eligible caregivers.

Product overview

The Center for Caregiver Advancement (CCA) operates as a single unified nonprofit training organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of free caregiver training programs in California. The organization serves two primary populations: In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) caregivers and nursing home workers. For IHSS providers, core offerings include IHSS Caregiving Essentials, Alzheimer's Disease & Related Dementias Training, and Emergency & Disaster Readiness courses, delivered through programs like Pathways to Professionalization and the IHSS Career Pathways Program. For nursing home workers, CCA provides CNA Training Programs, Restorative Nurse Assistant Training, Continuing Education Units, and specialized certifications including IV Therapy, CPR, and Director of Staff Development. All programs are offered free of charge to eligible workers, delivered in up to eight languages, and emphasize experiential learning with stipends for course completion. CCA also conducts research on training impact and advocates for caregiver professionalization policies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• IHSS Caregiver Training Free training programs for In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) providers including IHSS Caregiving Essentials, Alzheimer's Disease & Related Dementias, and Emergency & Disaster Readiness courses, designed to build caregiver skills and improve care quality for aging adults and people with disabilities.
• Nursing Home Caregiver Training Free CNA training programs, LVN advancement pathways, and continuing education for nursing home workers who are members of SEIU Local 2015, offered through The Education Fund partnership.
• IHSS Caregiving Essentials A 10-12 week instructor-led course teaching essential caregiving skills including body mechanics, infection control, medication safety, nutrition, mandated reporting, and documentation for IHSS providers.
• IHSS Alzheimer's Disease & Related Dementias Training Specialized training course teaching caregivers to recognize and manage symptoms of Alzheimer's and related dementias including sundowning, delirium, and behavioral management techniques.
• IHSS Emergency & Disaster Readiness Training Training course preparing caregivers for climate-related emergencies including wildfire evacuation, earthquake preparedness, emergency kits, trauma response, and community resources.
• CNA Training Program Free Certified Nursing Assistant training program with earn-while-you-learn apprenticeship model, offering online classes and onsite practice at partner nursing homes with stipend support.
• Restorative Nurse Assistant Training Advanced training program for CNAs or LVNs to become Restorative Nursing Assistants, providing specialized skills for skilled nursing home settings.
• Continuing Education Units CEU classes helping CNAs and LVNs meet requirements for license renewal, offered to maintain certifications and stay current with industry requirements.
• CPR Certification Training program teaching participants to recognize and respond to life-threatening emergencies including CPR techniques.
• IV Therapy and Blood Withdrawal Certification Certification program for LVNs to gain skills in starting and infusing intravenous fluids and withdrawing blood.
• Director of Staff Development Certification Certification program for nursing career advancement to Director of Staff Development role in skilled nursing facilities.
• Nonviolent Crisis Intervention Training Training on verbal de-escalation strategies for safely managing disruptive behaviors in skilled nursing facilities.
• Pathways to Professionalization for IHSS Workers Comprehensive free training program for IHSS caregivers in San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Los Angeles counties offering career advancement opportunities including potential CNA training pathway with wage increase.
• IHSS Career Pathways Program Training State-funded training initiative under California's Master Plan for Aging offering evidence-based specialized caregiver training including Alzheimer's care, emergency preparedness, and basic skills courses in eight languages.
• Autism Spectrum Disorder Training Specialized course teaching caregivers to identify signs, manage maladaptive behaviors, and support individuals with autism across different age groups.
• Diabetic Care and Nutrition Training Course covering diabetes types, complications, nutrition management, and emergency response for caregivers supporting individuals with diabetes.
• Traumatic Brain Injury Training Course helping caregivers understand TBI types, risk factors, health disparities, and their role in observation, monitoring, and documentation.
• Heart Disease and Care Training Course on causes, symptoms, risk factors of heart attacks and heart failure, plus lifestyle modifications and emergency response procedures.
• Caregiver Resiliency Teams Project First-of-its-kind emergency preparedness training program teaching caregivers to prepare for, respond to, and recover from climate-related disasters including wildfires, extreme heat, and power outages.
• CNA & LVN Registered Apprenticeship Program Statewide earn-while-you-learn apprenticeship program providing free Certified Nursing Assistant training and advancement pathway to LVN for SEIU Local 2015 nursing home workers, with the goal of training 500 CNAs and 12 CNA-to-LVNs over three years.
• Digital Literacy Course for Home Caregivers Free training course for home caregivers developing digital skills needed for modern caregiving, technology use, and documentation.
• Skill Builder Platform Mobile platforms available for upskilling and learning in various caregiving topics for nursing home workers.
• Activities Resources Membership Subscription-based website offering ideas and resources for activities assistants in nursing homes.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 46% reduction in patient ER visits and hospitalizations
• +9 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Personal Assistance Services Council of Los Angeles (PASC LA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Public authority partnership renewed in 2026 to support eLearning training for both IHSS caregivers and consumers in Los Angeles County. Collaborative learning model where caregivers and consumers learn side-by-side.
• Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) at MITcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023First-ever randomized controlled trial on IHSS training in collaboration with J-PAL North America. Study launched in San Bernardino County to establish evidence base for training impact on consumer outcomes and policy change.
• Nursing Home Employers (SEIU 2015 Members)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Skilled nursing facility employers that are members of The Education Fund. Provide apprenticeship sites for CNA training and employ SEIU 2015 workers. Include Centinela West, Centinela Living Assistant, Centinela East, Ontario Grove, Maywood Healthcare, Windsor Gardens, and others.
• California Department of Social Services (CDSS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Oversees IHSS program statewide and partners on Career Pathways Program that funds caregiver training for all IHSS providers in California.
• BlueShield of CaliforniacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Partnership to provide training for IHSS providers caring for BlueShield members.
• Alameda Alliance for HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Partnership for dementia training research and implementation in California's Medicaid-funded In-Home Supportive Services program.
• UC IrvinecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Partnership to launch dementia training courses for family caregivers to address future caregiving demand.
• L.A. Care Health PlancoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Major health plan partnership to provide training to IHSS providers caring for L.A. Care members. Partnership has generated utilization studies showing statistically significant drops in ER visits and hospitalizations. Nearly nine years of collaboration by 2025.
• UCLA HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Partnership in Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP) to develop Alzheimer's care training curriculum. Findings on competency-based Alzheimer training published in Journal of Gerontology.
• Health NetcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016First agreement nationally where a union-affiliated training center is contracted by a health plan to provide orientation for home care workers who care for Health Net members.
• University of California San Francisco (UCSF)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Research partnership on Alzheimer's training impact. UCSF's impact studies published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at national conferences. Research partnership continued through San Bernardino County RCT study.
• SEIU Local 2015 (formerly SEIU Local 434b)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010Founding union partner - SEIU members established CCA (originally Home Care Workers Training Center) in 2000. SEIU 2015 remains core strategic partner providing union membership for nursing home workers and IHSS providers. The union's collective bargaining agreements include training benefits through The Education Fund operated by CCA.
• Vital ResearchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch organization partner for impact studies and evaluation of training programs.
• Communities for a Better EnvironmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner in Caregiver Resiliency Teams Project advisory council, focusing on climate-related emergency preparedness training.
• California Association of Public Authorities for IHSS (CAPA)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStatewide association of county public authorities that refer IHSS providers to CCA training programs.
• California In-Home Supportive Services Consumer Alliance (CICA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsumer advocacy group partner working to advance caregiver training and workforce development.

Scale indicators23 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• SEIU 775 NW Training Partnership: Washington-state training organization established through SEIU 775 (the home-care union). Operates the Homecare Worker Training Program and other benefit-funded caregiver training — the closest structural analogue to CCA, with the same union-founding model, same state workforce-development dependence, and same caregiver-HHA-CNA training scope.
• PHI (Paraprofessional Healthcare Institute): National nonprofit focused on the direct-care workforce (HHAs, CNAs, personal care aides). Both CCA and PHI pursue training, research, and policy advocacy to professionalize paid caregivers; PHI operates its own training curricula, state-level workforce initiatives, and peer-reviewed impact research that parallels CCA's research-and-policy model.
• 1199SEIU Training and Employment Funds: Joint labor-management training and benefit trust for 1199SEIU healthcare workers across the East Coast. Like CCA, it administers a Taft-Hartley training fund delivering free credentialing (CNA, LPN support, specialty certifications) to unionized healthcare workers funded by employer contributions and government grants — a sister labor-affiliated training organization.
• Institute on Aging: San Francisco-based 501(c)(3) serving older adults, people with disabilities, and their caregivers through service programs, caregiver training, and applied research. Shares CCA's nonprofit model, Bay Area/California footprint, caregiver training focus, and research partnerships with academic institutions.
• CareAcademy: Online training platform serving professional and family caregivers with state-compliant caregiver, HHA, and dementia curricula. Competes with CCA for the same employer and payor customer base (home care agencies, Medicaid plans), but operates as a SaaS/online product business rather than a union-affiliated nonprofit.

Regional players

• Homebridge: San Francisco-based nonprofit home care and personal assistance provider for older adults and people with disabilities. While Homebridge primarily delivers IHSS in-home services rather than training, it overlaps with CCA on the same payer contracts and same Northern California IHSS consumer population, and both pursue quality-care outcomes for the same IHSS workforce.

Broad incumbents

• Relias: Large established healthcare workforce training and compliance platform serving hospitals, home health agencies, and skilled nursing facilities. Relevant as a broad competitor in the same CNA/long-term care training category CCA operates in, but oriented as a commercial SaaS product across multiple healthcare verticals.
• HealthStream: Public, scaled healthcare workforce development company providing training, certification, and credentialing used by hospitals, nursing facilities, and home health agencies. Operates broadly across all healthcare roles (vs. CCA's caregiver-only focus) and competes on CNA/long-term care modules.

Others

• National Domestic Workers Alliance: National advocacy coalition representing nannies, housecleaners, and home care workers — including affiliates that operate caregiver training programs and policy campaigns. Not a training provider itself but a close ecosystem partner that shapes the same policy and funding environment CCA operates in.
• American Health Care Association / National Center for Assisted Living: National trade association representing skilled nursing and assisted living providers. Relevant ecosystem player that advocates on workforce policy and produces its own training/credentialing resources; CCA's nursing home members are AHCA-affiliated facilities, and the two organizations collaborate on long-term care workforce priorities.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/CenterForCaregiverAdvancement
• Instagraminstagram.com/centerforcaregiveradvancement
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@centerforcaregiveradvancement
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/centerforcaregiveradvancement

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Center for Caregiver Advancement