Caregiving Company AmeriCare of South Florida Creates Scholarship Fund for Caregivers Company Offers Tangible Solution to Shortage of Healthcare Worke

Miami (PRWEB) September 19, 2008 -- In response to the drastic shortage of qualified healthcare workers in the greater Miami area, caregiving company AmeriCare of South Florida (www.americarealliance.com) announced the creation of a special scholarship fund to support the education and development of qualified healthcare workers. The AmeriCare Alliance Scholarship Fund for Caregivers, which will begin accepting applications in spring 2009, will enable the scholarship recipient to pursue education related to the healthcare field, including Certified Nursing Assistant, Licensed Practical Nurse, Registered Nurse, Paramedic, and more. The scholarship will be administered through the Dade Community Foundation.

AmeriCare is one of the few companies offering solutions oriented toward developing the next generation of healthcare providers. "This scholarship is an extension of who we are as a company," said Dennis Longo, owner of AmeriCare South Florida. "As a caregiving company, we're different. Our approach is to create a culture that extends our values to not only our clients, but to our current and prospective future employees."

The healthcare shortage in Miami and in Florida is more acute than in other parts of the country. The total population of Florida is projected to grow 22 percent between 2000 and 2020, while the population 65 and over is projected to grow 63 percent during the same period. According to the National Center for Health Worker Analysis the state ranks 28th in home health aides and 34th in nursing aides among the 50 states. With a growing and aging population, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that from 2000-2010, nine out of the 20 fastest growing occupations are concentrated in health services. These positions include both personal and home care aides (67 percent growth) and medical assistants (60 percent growth).

"Our goal with our employees is to teach them to become caregivers, not caretakers," said Longo. "We want their jobs to work well for them and that means providing the resources, support, and training to allow them to the best they can be as caregivers."

AmeriCare Miami and Dade Community Foundation will be awarding scholarships in spring 2009. For now, the organizations are focused on raising funds to support the scholarship. Persons or companies interested in contributing a 100 percent tax-deductible gift can send donations to Dade Community Foundation, www.dadecommunityfoundation.org, or by calling (305) 371- 2711 and asking to speak with a Development Officer.

Caregiving Provider AmeriCare

AmeriCare is caregiving company dedicated to providing top quality non-medical caregiving services to families in need. It provides families with a choice of licensed, pre-screened, personally selected caregivers who work with individuals to create a customized care plan, free of limitations or restrictions. Caregiving services, including senior care, are currently available in California, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Maryland, New Jersey, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas. For more information on caregiving services please visit www.americarealliance.com.