Building Pathways to a Brighter Future
Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit
Work Attributes Toward Careers in Health (WATCH)
Location: Milton, PA
OTHER GRANT INFORMATION
Six-Year Project Period: September 30, 2015 - September 29, 2021*
Annual Award Amount: $1,500,000
Type of Organization: Educational Service Agency
Service Area: Centre, Clinton, Columbia, Lycoming, Mifflin, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder, Sullivan, Tioga, and Union Counties in Pennsylvania
Target Population: Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) recipients and other low-income individuals, including Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients, pregnant or parenting teens, high school dropouts, veterans, displaced workers, migrant workers, individuals transitioning out of foster care or an abusive relationship, and individuals presenting with intergenerational dependency on assistance
FIVE-YEAR QUANTIFIABLE PROJECTIONS
Number of individuals that will be enrolled in the overall HPOG program: 557
Number of TANF recipients that will be enrolled: 72
Number of individual participants that will begin basic skills education: 185
Number of individual participants that will complete basic skills education: 157
Number of participants that will begin any healthcare occupational training: 648
Number of participants that will complete any healthcare occupational training: 518
Number of individual participants that will obtain employment in a healthcare occupation: 418
ABSTRACT
Operating in central Pennsylvania, WATCH fosters collaboration among regional healthcare employers, workforce development entities, educators, and social service providers, in 11 primarily rural counties.
WATCH uses a job-driven approach to ensure employability; enable participants to enter and upskill their abilities on the WATCH Regional Nursing Career Pathway; implement work-based experiences (e.g., on-the-job training, work-study, registered apprenticeships); implement integrated and contextualized trainings; provide intensive case management, including work readiness skills, financial literacy, and peer support; and ensure cross-system coordination to move participants toward self-sufficiency. Supportive services assist participants with tuition, books, uniforms, licensing and certification fees, childcare, tutoring, transportation, English-language learner services, and emergency services. Training targets the following occupations: Care Valet, Direct Care Worker, Pharmacy Technician, Phlebotomist, Medical Front Office, Medical Billing, Electronic Health Records Specialist, Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), Sterile Processing Technician, Licensed Practical Nurse, Drug and Alcohol Behavior Disorder Specialist, EMT, and Registered Nurse. WATCH promotes a Registered CNA apprenticeship, including Advanced CNA, Geriatric and Dementia specialties, and Mentoring. WATCH has working relationships with regional TANF offices, regularly attends state and local WDB meetings, has local WDB representation on the Advisory Team, and has a working relationship with the Pennsylvania Apprenticeship and Training Office (ATO). When requested, technical assistance is delivered to support employer implementation of the CNA Apprenticeship and adjustments in curriculum.
*This second round of grant awards has been extended an additional 12 months, ending September 29, 2021.
Files
- PDF HPOG Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit Abstract (186.57 KB)