Citing the costs and complications of turnover in long-term care, one state provider association has tripled its annual scholarship giving as a way of contributing to retention efforts and lifting up caregiving and leadership careers.
A one-two combo of long-term planning and generous donors allowed the Florida Health Care Association to increase the number and amount of scholarships it awarded by more than three times.
The association’s Long Term Career Advancement scholarship program awarded a total of $328,500 to 93 caregivers in July — a significant increase over last year’s total awards of $69,500 to 29 recipients.
“People are looking for growth opportunities when they look for careers, not just jobs,” said Kristen Knapp, senior director of strategy and communications for FHCA. “What is the pathway to be something more, to grow with an organization or to grow professionally? That’s what this is helping them to do. We’re giving them the financial means to be able to accomplish their goals.”
Since 2005, the association’s foundation has used the proceeds from an annual golf tournament to fund the scholarships. Knapp, who administers the program, said leaders set a fundraising goal of $1 million to create a scholarship endowment that could help the program grow intentionally.
“We all recognize there’s a cost associated with turnover and the ability to retain staff,” Knapp said. “It’s not just a financial benefit [to retention], there’s also the benefit of consistency in staffing and for residents.”
Then this year, there came some extra help.
An anonymous donor agreed to give the foundation $200,000 per year for four years with the stipulation that the money be spent immediately. A second donor – the CEO of Facility Support Company, a healthcare consulting firm – is giving $50,000 per year for four years with a similar expectation.
“They said, ‘Spend it,’” Knapp said.
And so they did.
FHCA awards three types of scholarships:
This year, the association awarded 48 Bruce Taylor Scholarships, 21 Career Climb Scholarships, and 24 ATI scholarships. Recipients must agree to remain employed by their current facility for up to one year.
In previous years, scholarships ranged from $500 to $750.
While the increases will not solve staffing and retention problems the industry is experiencing, they will make a meaningful difference for the employees and the facilities, Knapp said, adding that the association’s scholarships complement tuition reimbursement and other programs offered at facilities.
In addition to recognizing scholarship winners at the association’s annual conference, the association prints certificates that can be given to recipients at ceremonies at their workplaces.
“They’ll do a townhall meeting and present it, make it a big celebration,” Knapp said. “They make a big deal out of it, which is as it should be.”
The full list of Florida Health Care Association Education and Development Foundation 2025 scholarship recipients can be found here.
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