Building Pathways to a Brighter Future
The WorkPlace
Southwestern Connecticut Health CareeRx Academy
Location: Bridgeport, CT
OTHER GRANT INFORMATION
Six-Year Project Period: September 30, 2015 - September 29, 2021*
Annual Award Amount: $2,783,264
Type of Organization: Nonprofit with 501(c)(3) IRS Status (other than Institution of Higher Education)
Service Area: Fairfield County and a portion of New Haven County in Connecticut
Target Population: Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) recipients, veterans, and persons with disabilities
FIVE-YEAR QUANTIFIABLE PROJECTIONS
Number of individuals that will be enrolled in the overall HPOG program: 1,500
Number of TANF recipients that will be enrolled: 1,275
Number of individual participants that will begin basic skills education: 750
Number of individual participants that will complete basic skills education: 675
Number of participants that will begin any healthcare occupational training: 1,350
Number of participants that will complete any healthcare occupational training: 1,215
Number of individual participants that will obtain employment in a healthcare occupation: 911
ABSTRACT
The WorkPlace’s Southwestern Connecticut Health CareeRx Academy (Academy) is a broad partnership of healthcare providers, employers, educators, trainers, and community-based organizations that work together to train and prepare TANF recipients and other low-income individuals for employment in healthcare occupations. As the regional Workforce Development Board, the WorkPlace’s partners include the Connecticut Department of Social Services and the Connecticut Department of Labor.
The project focuses on health career pathways with education and training activities along two lattices: patient care (offering training in several occupations and at multiple levels of certifications/degrees) and medical office work. The Academy works with the region’s colleges and other training providers to design and offer education/preparation for the following occupations: Registered Nurse (BSN and ASN), Radiologic Technologist, Surgical Technologist, Patient Care Technician, Medical Assistant, Pharmacy Technician, Nursing Assistant, Home Health Aide, Dental Assistant, Medical Records and Health IT Tech (Medical Reimbursement Specialist, Certified Professional Coder, Electronic Medical Records Specialist), Respiratory Therapist, Sterile Processing Technician, and Medical Secretary (Medical Office Specialist and Medical Office Manager). Supportive services include academic supports, case management, childcare, transportation assistance, and tuition assistance. All participants have a support team that includes a career counselor, life coach, peer mentors, an employer specialist, and trainers, as appropriate. Program hallmarks include a newly designed model of enhanced supports integrated directly into the career readiness training sequence. The Academy is also providing a reconfigured, comprehensive set of career readiness, education, and training activities via a 2-week Foundation Skills Seminar Series. Participants new to healthcare professions will complete a 2-week series of Contextualized Learning Workshops. Participants in need of more preparation to be work ready will achieve further job readiness education, which includes a model adapted from the proven and nationally recognized STRIVE program customized for healthcare workers.
*This second round of grant awards has been extended an additional 12 months, ending September 29, 2021.