WASHINGTON, DC -- The following information was released by the DC Department of Employment Services:
The Department of Labor today awarded the District of Columbia $4.9 million in a major national grant to help increase the number of qualified, entry-level and career path workers in health care and strengthen the skills of incumbent heath care workers, particularly in the high demand areas of health information technology and nursing.
The grant, awarded to Providence Hospital on behalf of Capital Health Careers, is a joint effort of Washington- area education, health care, not-for profit and employer organizations - including the District of Columbia Department of Employment Services - that incorporates best practices from the fields of education, health care, and workforce development. The funding for the partnership is part of $228 million awarded from a national competitive grant process authorized by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
Regional and national studies show that there are not enough qualified applicants to fill the health care industry vacancies at all levels. Graduates of the program will receive industry-recognized certificates and degrees that will allow them to become more marketable.
This new investment will make it possible for the District to train 500 people in various health care fields, and will see more than 280 qualified health care industry workers hired over the next three years. Specialized training in health information technology will be offered to more than 100 new and incumbent heath care workers.
'The Recovery Act's investments are making a positive difference in the lives of America's working families,' said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. 'The Recovery Act funded grants announced today will ensure thousands of workers across the nation can receive high-quality training and employment services, which will lead to good jobs in healthcare and other industries offering career-track employment and good pay and benefits.'
'Health care is a tremendously important and growing part of the District's economy, providing good paying, career-path jobs to thousands of people,' said Joseph Walsh, director of the DC Department of Employment Services (DOES). 'With this grant from US Department of Labor more of our residents will have a greater opportunity to enhance their skills and join the health care workforce, or to gain new skills so they move up the career ladder in the many occupations within health care.'
The DC Department of Employment Services, one of nine partners of the Capital Health Careers initiative, will help to recruit unemployed workers through the city's career centers and coordinate job fairs to link qualified workers to health care employers and program trainers. Other partners of Capital Health Careers are Providence Hospital, the Workforce Investment Council (WIC), the Catholic University of America, the Community College of DC, the DC Department of Disability Services, DC Primary Care Association, United Planning Organization, and the Greater Washington Regional Alliance for Careers in Health.
