Workforce News 2026Apr30

Kierstin Reed • April 30, 2026

TPS Support at Hill Event

LeadingAge members and residents gathered on Capitol Hill on April 28 to spotlight the caregiver workforce crisis, underscoring the importance of foreign-born workers. Speakers focused on protecting legal employment avenues such as Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to maintain a stable aging services workforce, and to meet future need. Participants urged lawmakers to act on policies that support caregivers and ensure older adults can continue to receive quality care. Read our article about the event.

EAD Renewal Delays: Steps Members Can Take

Aging services providers are grappling with fallout from the Department of Homeland Security’s October 30, 2025, interim final rule, which ended automatic Employment Authorization Document extensions for many categories, contributing to processing backlogs and leaving some workers without timely authorization. This article provides practical steps employers and employees can take to check status, request help, and escalate when needed.

Sen. Cassidy Introduces Apprenticeship Bills During National Apprenticeship Week

On April 27, Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee Chair Bill Cassidy (R‑LA), along with Republican colleagues, introduced two bills aimed at strengthening and modernizing the federal Registered Apprenticeship system. The bill introductions coincide with National Apprenticeship Week, a nationwide effort led by the U.S. Department of Labor to highlight apprenticeship as an “earn‑while‑you‑learn” workforce strategy and to showcase how registered apprenticeships are expanding across industries, including healthcare. The proposals dovetail with the administration’s priority of making apprenticeships the center of the country’s workforce development strategy. One of the Cassidy bills would establish a new advisory committee within the Department of Labor to review and improve how registered apprenticeship data are collected and used. The committee would develop recommendations to improve data quality, better integrate apprenticeship data with other federal workforce and education systems, and reduce administrative burdens for apprenticeship sponsors. The bill also emphasizes stronger tracking of apprentice outcomes, including completion rates and earnings, and improved worker access to their own training and employment records. The second bill would create clearer timelines and expectations for registering new apprenticeship programs. Under the proposal, states or the Department of Labor would be required to identify clerical issues within 30 days of a program submission and make a final approval or denial decision within 90 days. The bill also includes new transparency requirements, directing states to publicly post apprenticeship standards and related requirements, and authorizes significant formula funding to help states meet these timelines, with accountability measures if deadlines are missed. For LeadingAge members facing persistent workforce shortages — particularly among direct care roles — streamlined federal processes and expanded state capacity could make apprenticeships a more accessible and practical option.


Here is your Workforce Weekly Recap from National
By Kierstin Reed July 30, 2026
LeadingAge Webinar on Tenant Compliance Must-Dos for Affordable Senior Housing, August 19, 2-3:15 p.m. ET. Join the LeadingAge housing community for a webinar by compliance expert Jenny DeSilva, who will review unique rules and requirements for HUD-assisted senior housing communities. Participants will receive practical guidance to stay prepared for HUD oversight while supporting older adults as they age in community. Register here . Affordable housing Weekly Recap . Here is your weekly Affordable Housing Weekly Recap
By Kierstin Reed July 30, 2026
Join the National Healthcare at Home Best Practices Study
By Kierstin Reed July 30, 2026
CPR for ALL Direct Care Staff
By Kierstin Reed July 30, 2026
USCIS Confirms Termination of TPS for Haiti — EADs No Longer Valid, Immediate Reverification Required Following Monday’s update to the Haiti TPS page USCIS has issued additional guidance confirming that Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti is terminated, effective July 27, 2026 and further informing employers that all associated Employment Authorization Documents are no longer valid: “Forms I-766, Employment Authorization Document, (EADs) with category A12 or C19 issued to TPS Haiti beneficiaries are no longer valid. Employers completing Form I-9 must reverify TPS Haiti beneficiaries who presented these EADs and cannot continue to employ a person who does not provide proof of current employment authorization.” (emphasis in original) What this means for employers: Forms I-766 (EADs) with category A12 or C19 issued to TPS Haiti beneficiaries are no longer valid, effective immediately. Employers must reverify any employee who presented an EAD bearing one of these codes for Form I-9 purposes. Employers cannot continue to employ anyone who does not provide proof of current employment authorization. Recommended next steps: If you have not done so already immediately identify any employees with TPS Haiti–based A12/C19 EADs on file and begin reverification , documenting all actions taken. You may wish to direct affected employees to immigration counsel to explore other pathways (pending adjustment of status, other EAD categories, family-based petitions, etc.), but employees unable to present alternative valid work authorization at this time cannot continue in active employment status. We know this is a difficult time for our employees and our communities, and LeadingAge will continue monitoring related litigation and agency action and will issue further guidance as warranted. Resources for Residents Who Want to Advocate for Their Caregivers As immigration policy continues to shift—including recent developments affecting Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti and other countries—LeadingAge has heard from a growing number of member communities whose residents are asking how they can advocate for the caregivers they value and rely upon every day. Many residents have expressed concern about the uncertainty facing foreign-born members of the aging services workforce and are looking for constructive ways to make their voices heard. We encourage members to use LeadingAge's resident advocacy materials , which were developed to help residents share their experiences and support policies that promote workforce stability. The toolkit includes background information, sample messages, advocacy tips, and other resources residents can use to communicate with their elected officials about the importance of maintaining a stable caregiving workforce. Members may also wish to direct interested residents to the Care for Seniors, Care for America campaign, a coalition effort focused on elevating the voices of older adults, caregivers, providers, and families in support of policies that strengthen the care workforce. LeadingAge is a participant in this effort, which highlights the connection between workforce stability and access to quality care for older adults. At a time when many residents are asking how they can help, these resources provide practical ways to engage and ensure that policymakers hear directly from the people most affected by workforce challenges in aging services. Here is your weekly Workforce Weekly Recap
By Kierstin Reed July 30, 2026
COVID “Up to Date” Definition Will Not Change
By Kierstin Reed July 30, 2026
CPR for ALL Direct Care Staff
By Kierstin Reed July 30, 2026
CMS releases FY2027 Final Rule On July 29, CMS released the final FY2027 SNF PPS Rule. The rule finalizes that 2.4% payment update, the removal of the two COVID vaccination measures from SNF QRP: COVID-19 Vaccination Coverage Among Healthcare Personnel and Percent of Patients/Residents Who Are Up to Date, and all payer MDS reporting. CMS's press statement is here and the link to the text of the rule is here . Our press statement can be found here and we will be providing more analysis in the coming days.
By Kierstin Reed July 30, 2026
Join Our Advocacy Movement
By Kierstin Reed July 23, 2026
LeadingAge Webinar on Tenant Compliance Must-Dos for Affordable Senior Housing, August 19, 2-3:15 p.m. ET. Join the LeadingAge housing community for a webinar by compliance expert Jenny DeSilva, who will review unique rules and requirements for HUD-assisted senior housing communities. Participants will receive practical guidance to stay prepared for HUD oversight while supporting older adults as they age in community. Register here . Affordable housing Weekly Recap . Here is your weekly Affordable Housing Weekly Recap
By Kierstin Reed July 23, 2026
Home Health Trend Reports Updated
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