Gyeongsangnam-do to Train Integrated Care Specialists from Public Officials to Care Activists

Customized Integrated Care Training for 2,500 Participants, Including Public Officials and Partner Organization Staff, to Begin in June

Gyeongsangnam-do will launch an "Integrated Care Specialist Training Program" starting in June to establish a sustainable community-based care system and to promote understanding and dissemination of the Gyeongnam-style integrated care model.

This training is being implemented for the first time this year by Gyeongsangnam-do, following suggestions made at the Provincial Residents’ Meeting in February and the Gyeongnam-do Integrated Care Council Meeting in April that tailored training for each target group is essential for the stable establishment of the Gyeongnam-style integrated care project and effective public-private collaboration. The Gyeongsangnam-do Social Service Institute will operate the program on commission.

Gyeongsangnam-do aims to train 2,500 integrated care specialists this year, including 870 public officials and 1,630 private sector participants (100 staff from partner organizations, 30 care leaders, and 1,500 care activists). The training will be conducted in two regions: Changwon and Jinju.

In particular, to establish a sustainable neighbor-care system centered on the local community, the province will train 1,500 care activists (five per town, township, or neighborhood) who will provide neighborly care, as well as 30 care leaders who are private-sector experts in integrated care.

Anyone who is familiar with the local area and wishes to participate in neighbor-care activities can apply to become a care activist. After completing the basic training, care activists will support care recipients by checking in on them during times when public services are not available.

After completing Gyeongsangnam-do’s professional training, care activists will also receive additional functional training provided by each local government, such as woodworking, hand massage, and recreation. This will strengthen their capabilities and enable them to use their talents for sustainable care activities.

The integrated care specialist training program consists of a common curriculum and target-specific courses. The curriculum includes: understanding the concept and policies of integrated care; community organization as part of the common curriculum; roles for each target group (care activists, care leaders, partner organizations, support organizations); operation of integrated care service windows and case meetings; and regional leader gatherings and discussions as part of the target-specific courses.

Recruitment of training participants from all cities and counties will begin on May 16. The common curriculum will be held for three days from June 24 to June 26 in Changwon (Gyeongnam Provincial Government) and Jinju (Gyeongnam Esports Permanent Arena), and the target-specific courses will be conducted from June to November.

Baek Jongcheol, Director of Integrated Care, stated, "By listening to the opinions of experts and local governments, we have divided and organized the training targets and curricula in detail, so we expect participants to gain a comprehensive understanding of the Gyeongnam-style integrated care model and their roles." He added, "We will systematically cultivate professional personnel related to integrated care and establish a sustainable foundation for neighbor-care."