Better Jobs Better Care

A good example of a foundation-funded initiative is the Better Jobs Better Care program. Better Jobs Better Care (BJBC) is a four-year $15.5 million research and demonstration program funded by The Atlantic Philanthropies and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. It aims to achieve changes in long-term care policy and practice that help to reduce high vacancy and turnover rates among direct-care staff across the spectrum of long-term care settings and contribute to improved workforce quality. The BJBC program provided funds to five state-based coalitions for demonstration grants, as well as additional funding for research grants. Although BJBC funding has ended, the demonstration projects pulled together local funding partners, providing useful groundwork for these states as well as others that might be interested in pursing similar efforts.

BJBC Grantee	Key Local Funding Partners
Iowa Caregiver’s Association	Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals (in-kind) Iowa Community Colleges (in-kind)
North Carolina Foundation for Advanced Health Programs, Inc.	North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Medical Review of North Carolina (QIO) North Carolina Foundation for Advanced Health Programs, Inc. Institute on Aging
Oregon Works! Building a Workforce for the 21^st Century	The Northwest Health Foundation Oregon Health Sciences University, John A. Hartford Foundation Center of Geriatric Nursing Excellence, Best Practices Initiative In-kind support was provided by state and local government agencies, state provider associations, and university centers.
Center for Advocacy for the Rights and Interests of the Elderly (CARIE)	Pennsylvania Inter-Governmental Council on Long-Term Care Berks County Office of Aging In-kind support was provided by other local agencies.
Community of Vermont Elders	Vermont Department of Aging and Disabilities (partially through RCSC) Vermont Legal Aid Department of Employment and Training