NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL SERVICE LAUNCHES PHASE 2 OF THE HIRING FOR EMERGENCY LIMITED PLACEMENT PROGRAM
The Department of Civil Service today announced the launch of Phase 2 of the Hiring for Emergency Limited Placement (HELP) Program, a program which temporarily waives the civil service exam requirement for select critical health and human services titles across state agencies. The HELP Program, which first launched in April 2023 with nearly 100 job titles, was developed to help address the statewide workforce shortage in critical health and safety titles across state government. Phase 2 expands the program to include 40 additional titles that support and engage in related healthcare and human service functions. Candidates can view hundreds of current job openings across New York State and apply directly to these jobs at the following link: https://www.cs.ny.gov/help/.
Department of Civil Service Commissioner and Civil Service Commission President Timothy R. Hogues said, “The Department of Civil Service is working proactively to help recruit the next generation of the New York State workforce. The HELP program is just one step we are taking to help our partner state agencies attract and retain a diverse and talented workforce that can serve all New Yorkers well into the future. I encourage all individuals to visit the webpage and apply for all positions that you are interested in to begin a rewarding career that offers many benefits with New York State.”
New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance Acting Commissioner Barbara C. Guinn said, “Many of the programs overseen by OTDA are administered by county departments of social services and the HELP Program has been critical to assisting local governments in quickly filling much-needed human services jobs at a time when demand for our agency’s programs and services have increased. We are also pleased that several OTDA job titles have been included in Phase 2 of the HELP Program and expect to hire dozens of people over the coming months to help us fulfill our mission and better serve New Yorkers in need.”
Office for People With Developmental Disabilities Commissioner Kerri Neifeld said, “Since the launch of Phase 1 of the HELP program in April, OPWDD has hired over 1,400 direct care and clinical positions to assist people with developmental disabilities to achieve their daily goals. The added job titles reflect the wide range of services necessary to support people to live safe and fulfilling lives in their communities and I am grateful to Governor Hochul and our partners at Civil Service for expanding this initiative to allow more people to pursue careers in this rewarding field.”
Department of Corrections and Community Supervision Acting Commissioner Daniel F. Martuscello III said, “The HELP Program has been an enormous asset to DOCCS since its implementation. During Phase 1 we were able to hire 227 critical positions that have allowed us to continue to meet the needs of our staff, incarcerated population, and releasees. We look forward to the expansion of this initiative and the positive impact it will have on our workforce and stakeholders.”
New York State Insurance Fund Executive Director & CEO Gaurav Vasisht said, “NYSIF has had great success utilizing the HELP program, filling nearly 70 positions since April. We appreciate the Department of Civil Service’s efforts to help us recruit and retain diverse talent in these mission-critical fields.”
The HELP Program temporarily removes the civil service exam requirement for more than 140 direct care, health, and human services titles across State agencies for a 12-month period. To be eligible for jobs in the HELP program, candidates must meet the jobs' minimum qualifications and any other conditions of employment. Candidates should visit the HELP Jobs Portal and use the candidate portal to apply for jobs in the HELP program. Candidates from diverse backgrounds and traditionally marginalized communities are encouraged to apply.
More than 3,700 positions have been filled through the State HELP program across New York State. This number will continue to grow due to the expansion of the program.
In addition, recognizing that local governments are having the same challenges, the Department implemented a similar program, the Local HELP Program, to provide a tool for local civil service agencies to address the emergency staffing crisis that they are also facing across health and safety positions.
At the local level, there are currently 26 local civil service agencies participating, and more than 500 positions have been filled to date. These numbers will also continue to grow as more local agencies opt into this unprecedented program.
The HELP Program was developed to help address the statewide workforce shortage in critical health and safety titles across state government. Titles appropriate for hiring under the HELP Program are limited to positions that provide or support critical services to meet the basic health, safety, and daily needs of New Yorkers. Examples of some of the most populous titles included in the program are Direct Support Assistant, Licensed Practical Nurse, Registered Nurse Licensed Master Social Worker, Mental Health Therapy Aide and Psychologist. Phase 2 expands the program to include titles like Health Information Management Technicians and Administrators, Disability Analyst, Treatment Unit Clerk and Medicaid Eligibility Examiner.