Massachusetts Career Ladder Program

Social Finance, in collaboration with the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services, is proud to launch the Massachusetts Career Ladder Program (MA CLP). This program provides multiple forms of financial, and wraparound supports to enable 325 Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) and other direct care workers in skilled nursing facilities and home or community-based care settings to reduce their work hours to half time and enroll in Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) programs. While enrolled in an LPN program, participants receive weekly payments of $440 which helps to cover living expenses while they work reduced hours. Participants also have access to academic and personal coaching support from Jewish Vocational Services (JVS) and funding for tuition not covered by other grant programs, such as MassReconnect. If participants return to full-time work as an LPN with their sponsoring employer, the employer will make repayments to CLP covering their weekly stipend throughout a retention period of four years.

Supported by $6 million in funding from the Massachusetts legislature and the U.S. Department of the Treasury through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA), the MA CLP aims to: 

1. Promote career growth for direct care workers within the health and human services sector. 
2. Address the critical shortage of LPNs at skilled nursing facilities, long-term care, home care, and community settings.