42 U.S.C. § 293k–1 — Training opportunities for direct care workers

(a) In general: The Secretary must award grants to eligible entities so they can provide new training opportunities for direct care workers. Those workers must be employed in long-term care settings, such as nursing homes (as defined in section 1396g(e)(1) of this title), assisted living facilities and skilled nursing facilities, intermediate care facilities for individuals with mental retardation, home and community based settings, and any other setting the Secretary determines appropriate. (b) Eligibility: To be eligible for a grant under this section, an entity must (1) be an institution of higher education (as defined in section 1002 of title 20) that (A) is accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency or association listed under section 1001(c) of title 20, and (B) has established a public-private educational partnership with a nursing home or skilled nursing facility, an agency or entity providing home and community based services to individuals with disabilities, or another long-term care provider; and (2) submit an application to the Secretary at the time, in the manner, and containing the information the Secretary requires. (c) Use of funds: An eligible entity must use grant amounts to provide assistance to eligible individuals to offset the cost of tuition and required fees for enrollment in the entity's academic programs. (d) Eligible individual: (1) Eligibility: To be eligible for assistance under this section, an individual must be enrolled in courses provided by a grantee and maintain satisfactory academic progress in those courses. (2) Condition of assistance: As a condition of receiving assistance, the individual must agree that, after the assistance period ends, they will work in the field of geriatrics, disability services, long term services and supports, or chronic care management for a minimum of 2 years, under guidelines the Secretary sets. (e) Authorization of appropriations: Congress authorized $10,000,000 to carry out this section, for the period of fiscal years 2011 through 2013.