The Home Care Workforce Action Alliance is no longer just a new idea. It is moving toward its goal of reducing the caregiver shortage.

Since the announcement of the alliance in May, teams have been selected to lead four groups: wages and benefits, education and career pathing, elevating the profession and supply and demand. This is according to Vicki Hoak, CEO of the Home Care Association of America, one of the creators of the alliance. She offered this update on Thursday during a webinar offered by the Polsinelli law firm. The groups will meet in August in Washington, DC, to develop action steps to mitigate the workforce shortage. Work, she said, will be completed at the end of the year.

The alliance currently is looking for volunteers to serve on its work groups.

“I don’t want to minimize this will take some work,” said Hoak, whose kind but firm way of speaking makes you believe her.

The alliance will select members of the work groups in the next two weeks, she explained. Work groups will meet over Zoom, she noted.

If any home care owners, operators or other leaders in the field are looking to do some good, this might be just your chance. Helping to solve the worst caregiver shortage ever? I can’t imagine a nobler calling. Your imprint may be felt in numerous ways — from new initiatives to a larger, more diverse workforce, to innovative ideas not yet imagined. And like in those other great periods of service in history, you can tell your children or your children’s children that you did your part.

Liza Berger is editor of McKnight’s Home Care. Email her at [email protected].