Accomplishments

Since its founding in 2004, the Institute has worked with hospitals, state and local government, foundations and educational institutions to secure a skilled health work force for Washington’s citizens.  Below is a summary of a few of Institute’s accomplishments.


Research

  • Since 2004, the Institute has produced Washington’s hospital work force survey to track trends in industry growth and anticipate shortages
  •  Partnered with the Washington Association of Community & Migrant Health Centers to collect work force demand data on the state’s community health centers, a vital link to health care for our communities.

Capacity

  • Work to expand the seats available for students in health care training programs has resulted in  $84 million and almost 5,000 additional slots
  • Promoted and supported $13.5 million in funding for high demand health care training programs statewide
  • Secured $750,000 in Washington Job Skills Grants for Washington health care organizations to retrain incumbent workers

Diversity 

  • Received the prestigious Anne V. Farrell Leadership grant from the Seattle Foundation for the Career Pathways in Health Care Initiative. This $150,000 grant is given to organizations who are meeting community needs in “innovative, replicable” ways.  The Career Pathways in Health Care Initiative brings hospitals and community colleges together to provide training and college instruction at the job site to working adults in low-income jobs.
  • Received $136,000 from the City of Seattle, the Seattle Foundation and the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges for the initial phase of a work-based learning/career pathways initiative
  • Involved in the creation of $4 million Opportunity Grant program to help disadvantaged students enter a career pathway.

Youth 

  • Developed and secured funding for the Health Care Career Academies to provide alternative educational pathways for talented, at-risk youth. The program has resulted in 90 percent of participants completing certified nurse assistant training, 57 percent earned national certified nursing assistant licensure, and 75 percent completed rigorous college coursework..

Innovation 

  • Teamed with WSHA and SEIU 1199NW to secure $1.5 million in funding for work-based education in high demand health care fields
  • Assisted in securing $60,000 in state funding to conduct a Lean process demonstration project at a Washington hospital. 
  • Directed $120,000 in funding to support the creation of the Rural Outreach Nursing Education (RONE) program, which makes nursing education accessible to entry-level rural hospital workers through a combination of online course work and in-hospital clinical training. 
  • Brokered collaboration between Bellevue and Spokane Community Colleges to create a new Spokane-based ultrasound technology program
  • Brokered an agreement that secured the continuation of Spokane’s School of Radiologic Technology

For more information on any of the Health Work Force Institute’s programs, please contact Executive Director Jaime Garcia by e-mailing jaimeg@wsha.org or call (206) 577-1828.