About Us

The Florida Health Care Association (FHCA) is Florida’s largest and leading advocacy organization for long term care providers and the residents entrusted to their care. FHCA represents over 88% of the state’s 700 nursing centers. Membership includes more than 650 long term care centers that provide skilled nursing, post-acute and sub-acute care, short-term rehabilitation, assisted living and other services to the frail elderly and individuals with disabilities in Florida.

The Florida Health Care Education and Development Foundation (Foundation) is a 501 (c) (3) organization that was established by FHCA in 1983 to promote the educational and professional growth of employees in FHCA member centers to support staff stability and improved outcomes of resident care. Its mission is to support a compassionate, skilled workforce that improves the lives of Florida’s long term and post-acute care residents.

Scholarships are an important component of the Foundation’s purpose to assist long term care employees working in member nursing centers and assisted living facilities with career advancement. Foundation scholarships are awarded once a year and include the Bruce Taylor Scholarship, which supports FHCA member nursing center and assisted living facility staff with furthering their education and pursuing their career goals in nursing. The Career Climb Scholarship supports FHCA member nursing center and assisted living facility staff with furthering their education and advancing their long term care careers in areas such as dietary manager certification, long term care administration, therapy, activities, social work degrees or other, non-nursing educational programs. The Rising Long Term Care Leader Scholarship provides financial assistance to individuals completing an Administrator in Training (AIT) program in a Florida Health Care Association member nursing center.

The Foundation also works in partnership with various donors to provide hurricane relief and recovery to individuals working in member centers. Additionally, as a 501c3 organization, the Foundation also implements grant-funded initiatives to improve the quality care being delivered in Florida’s long term care centers.