Providence Hospital Recevies Capital Health Careers Grant Award

In February 2010, the U.S. Department of Labor announced the award of a $4.9 million Capital Health Careers grant to a multi-member team of stakeholders headed by Providence Health Foundation. Funds are aimed at:

• training 500 people for health career professions, and
  
• improving the District’s pool of highly qualified health care workers.

The grant comes from federal stimulus legislation. Funds will go to the Capital Health Careers team – composed of employers, educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, and service providers. In partnership with Providence and the District, this team will train direct health care workers and health information technology specialists. Student recruitment will assist the unemployed, dislocated and incumbent worker, especially those with low income and few skills. The project also has features to coach students toward successful course completion, to guide them in the job search process and help retain them once they are placed.

Project Director is Stephen Burns, Senior Vice President for Patient Care Services at Providence Hospital. Other partners in the Capital Health Careers project are:

• The D.C. Workforce Investment Council
  
• DC Department of Economic Services
  
• Catholic University of America
  
• The Community College of D.C.
  
• The D.C. Department of Disability Services
  
• D.C. Primary Care Association
  
• United Planning Organization
  
• The Greater Washington Regional Alliance for Careers in Health
  
• George Mason University, and
  
• Dimensions Healthcare System.

The project is currently in early stages of planning for implementation.