Creating a Staff Training Program That Meets Licensing & Medicaid Standards

AFC & HFA Training Requirements Made Simple for Michigan Providers

If you operate an Adult Foster Care (AFC) home or Home for the Aged (HFA) in Michigan, training your staff isn’t just good practice — it’s required by law.

From annual CPR certifications to dementia care and documentation skills, a strong training program ensures your team delivers safe, compliant, and person-centered care — while protecting your business from citations, audit findings, and burnout.

In this post, you’ll learn exactly what staff training is required by LARA and Medicaid waiver agencies like A&D Home Health Care and Region VII AAA, plus how to design a program that meets the standards and works for your team.

🧾 The Legal & Licensing Requirements

Michigan’s LARA Licensing Rules and Medicaid Waiver guidelines require facilities to ensure direct care workers and administrative staff are trained and competent in key areas before and during employment.

Core Topics That Must Be Covered:

• Resident Rights

• Fire Safety & Evacuation Procedures

• Infection Control / Bloodborne Pathogens

• CPR & First Aid (must be up to date)

• Medication Administration (if applicable)

• Emergency Preparedness

• Dementia or Alzheimer’s Care (if serving residents with cognitive decline)

• Person-Centered Planning

• Documentation & Incident Reporting

• Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Awareness

📅 Required Timing: When Training Must Happen

• Before working unsupervised: Staff must complete initial training on topics like resident rights, abuse prevention, and basic safety

• Ongoing: In-service training should be completed at least twice per year and be documented in each employee’s file

• CPR/First Aid: Must be current and certified by an approved organization (e.g. Red Cross, AHA)

🛠️ How to Create a Compliant Training Program (Without the Overwhelm)

✅ 1. Build a Rolling 6-Month Training Calendar

Rotate required topics to ensure everything is covered throughout the year. For example:

Month	Topics
January	Resident Rights, Fire Safety
March	Infection Control, CPR Practice
May	Dementia Care, Emergency Preparedness
July	Abuse Prevention, Incident Reporting
September	Person-Centered Planning, Evacuation Drills
November	Documentation Refresher, Staff Roles Review

📌 Pro Tip: Repeat high-risk topics (like documentation) more than once per year.

✅ 2. Use Simple, Trackable Training Logs

Each staff file should contain:

• Date of training

• Topic covered

• Trainer’s name or source (internal or external)

• Staff member’s signature or test (if applicable)

This will be requested during a LARA inspection or MDHHS/waiver audit — missing records are a common citation.

✅ 3. Include Real-Life Scenarios

Go beyond PowerPoints. Use:

• Role-playing (e.g., how to redirect a resident in crisis)

• Charting exercises (practice writing a progress note)

• Emergency drills (fire, fall response, choking)

• Review of actual past incidents and how to improve

✅ 4. Make It Ongoing — Not One-and-Done

Good training isn’t a checkbox — it’s part of your quality assurance. Staff should be:

• Re-trained when deficiencies occur

• Included in post-incident reviews

• Encouraged to speak up about what training they need

🔍 Don’t Forget: Medicaid Waiver-Specific Training

If you’re working with MI Choice Waiver clients through Region VII AAA or A&D Home Health Care, make sure training also covers:

• EVV (Electronic Visit Verification) usage

• Billing accuracy & documentation

• Service plan implementation

• Premium Pay tracking and pay stub compliance

🛡️ Roseberri Can Help You Build It

At Roseberri, LLC, we help Michigan AFC and HFA facilities:

• Create custom training calendars and logs

• Train administrators and caregivers on LARA & waiver requirements

• Organize staff files for inspections and audits

• Develop policy binders and documentation tools

📧 roseberrimanagement@gmail.com🌐 www.roseberri.com 📍 Michigan-based | Remote options available statewide

Final Thought: Train for Care, Not Just Compliance

Yes, staff training is required — but it’s also one of the best ways to improve care quality, staff retention, and business stability. Invest in your people, and you’ll see fewer incidents, better documentation, and more peace of mind.