Parent CNA Program in Colorado
Parents and family members can become Certified Nursing Assistants and serve as paid caregivers for their children with special medical needs. We manage the full process, from CNA training through employment, so you can focus on care at home.
Earn up to $23 per hour by becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant.
Training is completed in 4 to 6 weeks at no cost to you through Medicaid.
The Parent CNA Program is a Colorado Medicaid pathway that allows a parent, legal guardian, or qualifying family member to become a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) and provide paid in-home care for their child. The child must be enrolled in Health First Colorado (Colorado's Medicaid program) and assessed as needing CNA-level support at home.
Once certified and employed through an approved home health agency like Total Care Connections, the parent delivers care based on an authorized care plan and receives regular wages and benefits as an employee.

Children enrolled in the following waivers or programs may qualify for Parent CNA services:
Children with Complex Health Needs Waiver (CwCHN)
For children under 18 with complex medical conditions or disabilities requiring a hospital-level of care.
Formerly known as the CHCBS and CLLI waivers. As of July 1, 2025, new enrollment is through the CwCHN waiver.
IHSS (In-Home Support Services)
A participant-directed model available through qualifying waivers that allows families to select and manage their child's caregivers, including parents.
Children's Extensive Support Waiver (CES)
For children with intellectual or developmental disabilities who need access to ongoing services and supports.
What Does a Parent CNA Do?
As your child's Certified Nursing Assistant, you are authorized to provide a range of daily living and health-related support, including but not limited to:
Personal Care
Bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, incontinence care, and oral hygiene.
Mobility and Physical Support
Transfers, positioning, range of motion exercises, and assistance with mobility equipment.
Health Maintenance Activities
Medication administration, wound care, bowel and bladder care, respiratory support, and other skilled tasks as authorized in your child's care plan.
Daily Living Support
Meal preparation, feeding assistance, light housekeeping, and laundry.

Total Care Connections covers the cost of CNA training for qualifying families. The program includes online coursework and in-person clinical training, typically completable in four to six weeks. After passing a written exam and skills evaluation, you register as a CNA through the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), complete a brief orientation with our team, and begin employment.
We help you choose a CNA school that fits your schedule and guide you through every step.
Complimentary Credentials
We cover all credentialing costs at no expense to the family, including:
CNA school tuition
Background screening
Drug screen
First Aid and CPR certification
Orientation and onboarding
How It Works

As a Total Care Connections employee, caregivers working at least 29 hours per week may be eligible for health, dental, vision, supplemental benefits, paid leave, and retirement plan options.
Parents of children with special medical needs are often already providing around-the-clock care. The Parent CNA Program provides a formal structure that recognizes that work, compensates it, and ensures it meets the professional standards required by the state.
Total Care Connections handles the training, tuition, credentialing, employment logistics, and ongoing compliance so the process stays organized. Our bilingual care managers are also available to guide Spanish-speaking families through every step.


Little Heroes First
Become your child's professional caregiver with training and full benefits included.

Family First
Specialized IHSS programs that train and pay family members to serve as caregivers.
The kinds of support we provide
From daily routines to specialized needs, care is shaped around what’s required at home.
