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Career and Technical Education

CTE Content Areas

Oversight and Guidance

Home Health Aide

Home Health Aides are unlicensed individuals who play an integral role on the healthcare team in homecare settings. They perform non-medical services and supports for clients who need help with basic daily activities and physical care, or require assistance with shopping, cooking, or paying bills. They may assist in the safe and effective care of clients under the direct supervision of licensed professional nurses. Care may be provided to the elderly, individuals with physical or developmental disabilities, and those with rehabilitation needs. The duties of home health aides vary based on the type of homecare setting and individual client needs.

 

Home Health Aide Program of Study

Home Health Aide programs of study prepare students to work safely in the homecare setting under the supervision of licensed healthcare providers.

Program components must meet training and competency evaluation requirements established by NYSED. The Guidelines for Approval and Operation of a Home Health Aide Training Program contains all information and forms necessary to submit an application for approval of a school-based home health aide program. The guide will assist schools in planning, organizing and providing programs for home health aide preparation. The guide also supports providers seeking program approval or re-approval that must be secured before operating a program. Development of curricular materials that meet the New York State Education Department and New York State Department of Health standards is also covered in the guide. After initial approval, annual submission of materials is required to maintain operational approval. On-site re-approval visits are conducted by NYSED every two years.

In order to provide home health aide services in New York State, a person must successfully complete a HHATP or competency evaluation program conducted only by a NYSED or NYSDOH-approved HHATP. A certificate of completion is issued by the approved program/school through the New York State Home Care Worker Registry (HCWR).

The didactic learning combined with supervised clinical experience (see below) comprises a program of study.

Health sciences education prepares secondary and adult students for employment in the health care industry and for postsecondary education. The three integral components of all health sciences programs of study are a health science education core curriculum, content specific curriculum, and supervised clinical experience.

Health Sciences Core Curriculum

A health sciences education core curriculum serves as the foundation to prepare students for individual health sciences careers and must include Health Science Learning Standards.

The National Consortium for Health Science Education (NCHSE) Health Science Standards are acceptable learning standards on which to develop the Health Sciences Core as part of a Health Sciences program of study. 

Supervised Clinical Experience

  • Affiliation agreement(s) must be established (a written contract with each partnering healthcare facility).
  • Students may enter a clinical setting only after receiving prior program instruction and demonstrating skill and knowledge, under supervision by the school’s program instructor. 
  • Scopes of practice under various state licensures must be considered when developing hands-on activities in implementation of health sciences programs.

Required HHA Program Forms (also included in the Guidelines for Approval link above)