Gov. Whitmer Signs Executive Order Establishing Nursing Home Workforce Stabilization Council (SNF)

New council comprised of statewide leaders, nursing home workers, and employers dedicated to increasing staffing levels, supporting workforce development, promoting transparency 

Governor Gretchen Whitmer recently signed an executive order establishing the Michigan Nursing Home Workforce Stabilization Council (NHWSC). The council will be housed within the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and comprised of state department directors, representatives from the nursing home workforce, representatives of nursing home employers, and nursing home residents. Their goal will be to identify review, develop, and recommend policies, administrative actions, legislative changes, and other approaches to support high-quality nursing home care.   

“The new Nursing Home Workforce Stabilization Council will bring in input from state leaders, nursing home workers, nursing home employers, and nursing home residents to put Michiganders first and recommend improvements to nursing home care,” said Governor Gretchen Whitmer. “I look forward to working with them and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to continue finding ways to boost nursing home staffing, promote transparency, and ensure sustainable, high-quality care for all nursing home residents.”  

“The COVID-19 pandemic has presented unprecedented challenges in our industry and underscored the need for all stakeholders to work together to finally address long-standing issues across our state,” said Mark Berger, Principal at Villa Healthcare. “I applaud Governor Whitmer’s leadership in bringing together operators, workers, and state officials to collaborate on comprehensive solutions to fix what’s broken and build a more resilient nursing home industry. Through the Nursing Home Workforce Stabilization Council, we are committed to creating meaningful partnerships and dialogue to ensure our heroic front line workers are truly valued, heard, and compensated as heroes, and all those who are in need for skilled nursing care can count on our industry to be there for them.” 

Members 

• Directors or designated representatives of the Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity and the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. 
• The Michigan State Long Term Care Ombudsman, or the ombudsman’s designated representative within that program. 
• Five representatives of the nursing home workforce, appointed by the governor 
• Five representatives of nursing home employers including at least one representative each of a not-for-profit nursing home employer, a for-profit nursing home employer, and a nursing home administered by a county government. 
• Three representatives of nursing home residents, which may include family members and other representatives of residents. 

Goals 

• Increase staffing levels across the industry, with particular focus on recruitment and retention 
• Support workforce development and stabilization 
• Develop career pathways, including credential attainment, and increase the professionalization of the work force 
• Address barriers to entry and retention into the field 
• Prioritize jobs that provide living wages and benefits 
• Advance diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workforce 
• Ensure the sustainability of quality care  
• Promote transparency and accountability within the industry 

To apply to the Nursing Home Workforce Stabilization Council click HERE and select “Nursing Home Workforce Stabilization Council” from the drop menu of the application.   

Applications are due by Friday, January 7, 2022.