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This Year 5 Annual Report describes results for participants in the second round of the Health Profession Opportunity Grants (HPOG) Program from the beginning of the Program through the end of Year 5 (September 30, 2015 through September 29, 2020). HPOG grants are awarded to organizations that provide education and training to Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) recipients and other low-income adults for occupations in the healthcare field that pay well and are expected to either experience labor shortages or be in high demand. The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services awarded a first round of five-year HPOG grants (“HPOG 1.0”) in 2010.
This report describes the first year of the second round of the Health Profession Opportunity Grants Program (“HPOG 2.0”). HPOG 2.0 provides education and training to Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) recipients and other low-income individuals for healthcare occupations that pay well and are in high demand. The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services awarded this second round of five-year grants in 2015. The first round of five-year grants was awarded in 2010. HPOG 2.0 grants were made to 32 grantees across 21 states, including five tribal organizations. In the first year of the HPOG 2.0 Program, the grantees enrolled over 5,000 participants.
The Year 2 Annual Report describes results for participants in the second round of the Health Profession Opportunity Grants Program (HPOG 2.0) from the beginning of the Program through the end of Year 2 (September 30, 2015 through September 29, 2017). HPOG 2.0 grants are awarded to organizations to provide education and training to Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) recipients and other low-income individuals for healthcare occupations that pay well and are in high demand. The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services awarded this second round of five-year grants in 2015. Grants funds are disbursed annually to 32 grantees in 21 states, including five tribal organizations. Through the end of Year 2 of HPOG 2.0, grantees enrolled more than 14,700 participants.
The Year 3 Annual Report describes results for participants in the second round of the Health Profession Opportunity Grants Program (HPOG 2.0) from the beginning of the Program through the end of Year 3 (September 30, 2015 through September 29, 2018). HPOG 2.0 grants are awarded to organizations to provide education and training to Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) recipients and other low-income individuals for healthcare occupations that pay well and are in high demand. The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services awarded this second round of five-year grants in 2015. Grants funds are disbursed annually to 32 grantees in 21 states, including five tribal organizations. Through the end of Year 3 of HPOG 2.0, grantees enrolled more than 23,215 participants.
This Year 4 Annual Report describes results for participants in the second round of the Health Profession Opportunity Grants (HPOG) Program from the beginning of the Program through the end of Year 4 (September 30, 2015 through September 29, 2019). HPOG grants are awarded to organizations that provide education and training to Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) recipients and other low-income individuals for occupations in the healthcare field that pay well and are expected to either experience labor shortages or be in high demand. The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services awarded a first round of five-year HPOG grants (“HPOG 1.0”) in 2010.
HPOG helped Salome find successful career despite her major health challenges
Salome grew up on the Pine Ridge Reservation in southwest South Dakota. For many years she took care of her parents, both of whom were on dialysis. She helped administer their medication and made sure they were comfortable and well-looked after. Later in life, Salome herself required dialysis over a period of ten years. While receiving treatment, Salome watched the nurses at work. She admired the confident, respectful, and compassionate way they interacted with patients under their care. This experience stuck with her and influenced her decision to enter the healthcare field.
In 2015, Salome began her education journey by enrolling in the GED program at the Career Learning Center in Rapid City, SD. At times, she was discouraged, unsure if she had what it took to become successful. An instructor noticed her frustrations and introduced her to the Prosperity Initiative. It is a program that strives to move families and individuals, like Salome, in Rapid City from poverty to prosperity. Salome expressed her goal to make something more of herself as well as her desire to enter the healthcare field. They referred her to the Great Plains Tribal Chairmen’s Health Board’s HPOG program, Pathways to Healthcare Professions (PHP). Soon after Salome’s acceptance into PHP, she started a Certified Nursing Assistant program.
Completing her education proved difficult. Salome had to balance 40 hours of school with dialysis treatments three times a week. Salome was determined to complete her training though and worked out an alternative schedule that allowed her to fulfill her academic requirements. The instructor let her leave early on the days she had dialysis, and worked with her after class on alternate days so she would not fall behind. PHP staff also helped her get to her classes and treatments.
In class, Salome was shy but engaged with the material. She demonstrated an excellent knowledge and understanding of patient care. Her instructors noted her kindness and dedication to caring for others. During clinical rotations, she went the extra mile for patients under her care, such as answering call lights when she was not required to. Salome completed her CNA training in April 2019 and received her GED soon after.
In January 2020, Salome began a Licensed Practical Nurse program at Western Dakota Tech and is on track to become a nurse. Under normal circumstances, Salome’s health and financial challenges might have prevented her from achieving her goals, but her determination, integrity and perseverance kept her focused. The support she received from the PHP HPOG staff further allowed her to excel and helped make her dream a reality.
This success story was self-identified by the grantee and information contained in this document was provided by the grantee.
The Great Plains Tribal Chairmen’s Health Board (GPTCHB) implements the Great Plains Pathways to Healthcare Professions (PHP) program in a cross-section of urban sites, rural areas, and reservations across South Dakota and Nebraska. PHP provides support services for recipients to obtain basic skills education as well as credentials recognized by the local healthcare industry.
In early 2019, the Cankdeska Cikana Community College Next Steps program partnered with the Spirit Lake Employment and Training Center (ETC) to create a dual training program. The dual program provides youth interested in healthcare the opportunity for additional skill development and employment potential while enhancing the reservation’s quality of healthcare services for its elder population. The collaboration offers participants of Next Steps’ existing certified nursing assistant (CNA) training and Spirit Lake’s individual qualified service provider (QSP) program to complete either or both certifications at the same time.
Inspiration comes in many forms. For Kelli, it came from her three young children.
A single mother, living on a reservation, Kelli worked hard to keep up with her own children during the fast-paced digital age, but she had very little opportunity for education or job training.
This put strain on her ability to be a stable role model and provider for her family. She longed for a fulfilling career that provided job security and the opportunity to have dinner with her children without rushing off to the next job.
The Yankton Sioux Tribe’s Master Health Director introduced Kelli to the HPOG Pathways to Healthcare Professions (PHP) program. After reaching out by phone and discussing her situation and long-term goals, she decided to apply for Certified Professional Coder (CPC) courses.
When Alex first applied to Cook Inlet Tribal Council’s (CITC) Health Program Opportunities Grant Health Care Training program funded by the Health Profession Opportunity Grants (HPOG) program of the Office of Family Assistance, he found out he was going to be a father for the first time. Though his family was eligible for public assistance, and relied on that support, Alex was hired as a full-time gas station attendant and was no longer eligible.
Alex had always wanted to be in the healthcare field. He thought he’d make a good certified nursing assistant (CNA) because he’d taken care of an aging relative as a teen. In addition to his own aspirations, Alex was now a young father and he wanted to make a better life for his growing family. When Alex came to CITC HPOG he was unsure how he would pay for school to pursue his dream. Fortunately, when Alex went to apply for cash assistance he was told about the HPOG program and applied to participate in August 2011. He attended the CNA orientation and job shadow requirements orientation meetings, and his application was selected for the Winter 2012 CNA training. Alex did very well in the training and completed all the necessary requirements to become a licensed CNA, but soon hit a roadblock that nearly derailed his progress. The Alaska Board of Nursing would not license him based on findings from his criminal background check. A mistake from Alex’s youth had caught up with him and threatened his future. Alex would not be allowed to take the required National Certification Licensure Examination until he satisfied all inquires from the Alaska Board of Nursing (Board). CITC helped Alex respond to and address all concerns of the Board. Alex credits the encouragement and guidance from CITC staff with keeping him going and not losing hope.
