1 Allied Health Youth Advancement Program Patricia A. Owens and Karen J. Morelli Atlantic Cape Community College For more information, contact: Stephen J. Bruner, Executive Director Atlantic Cape May Workforce Investment Board P:

2 Methodology Created viable workforce partnerships that created and sustained –Classroom and on the job training –Academic tutoring –Stipends for transportation, childcare and attendance –One- on- One Career coach support pre, during and post program –Employer mentors and offers of FT employment upon successful completion

3 Results Successful program implementation includes six cycles since pilot in Spring 2003 More than 700 youth responded to marketing efforts Enrolled 63 out of school youth 30 gained employment with Atlantic and Cape May County healthcare providers 2 students pursuing RN program prerequisites

4 Results Participants obtained certifications in –Basic Life Support –CPR –Phlebotomy ( National Healthcareer Association) –EKG (National Healthcareer Association) –Several students obtained GED

5 The Challenge Identifying committed healthcare partners in a collaborative effort to: –Identify labor demand needs –Match abilities of high risk young adults to the acute care environment –Provide intense curriculum with technical aspects in on the job training format –Ensure supportive case management services –Identify on the job professional mentors –Offer full time year round employment at the end of the program

6 The Challenge Identifying and incorporating solutions to the multiple barriers Older Out of School Youth face : –Transportation –Child care –Housing –Mental health issues –Drug and alcohol related problems

7 The Challenge Creating a curriculum that meets student and employer needs and provides the critical skills needed for success: –Integrate technical skills with basic education skills –Provide clinical opportunities to practice skills –Ongoing support throughout the program for life and work readiness, job placement and retention

8 The Challenge Reaching Out of School Youth: How do we identify, recruit and select the “right” participants? –Who meet WIA eligibility –Have literacy and academic levels high enough to succeed –Can pass substance abuse and criminal background checks –And have an interest in a health care career

9 The Solution The Curriculum –Intensive classroom instruction (290 hours) Computer skills Academic preparation Work/life skills Medical Terminology Anatomy & Physiology

10 The Solution The Curriculum –Intensive on the job clinical (210 hours) training includes: Phlebotomy Electrocardiogram Basic Life Support First Aid Transport

11 The Solution Target Marketing –Radio Advertising to specific stations –Grassroots effort to post signs in Wawa’s, One-Stop centers, and other local stores –Mailings to high school drop out lists, Faith based organizations –Youth Investment Board –Open Houses –Referrals from other providers

12 The Solution Support Services to overcome barriers: –Stipends for attending training, transportation and childcare –Full time Career Coach to work one on one with participants to resolve personal issues –Job placement assistance –Continued follow –up –Emergency Fund –All books, materials and uniforms

13 The Results WIB Healthcare Committee created to address the needs of the healthcare employers in the two counties Allied Health Youth Advancement Program result of the collaboration 3 local hospitals agreed to support program with on site clinicals Replication of model to Retail & Culinary

14 The Results During last three years –Over 700 students responded to marketing campaigns –300 attended open houses –250 given TABE tests, Ansell-Casey, and personally interviewed –63 enrolled –30 employed in local healthcare (not including current class)

15 The Results Certifications gained –Basic Life Support(29) –First Aid (32) –Phlebotomy (11*) –EKG (14*) –GED (2*) (* figures do not include graduates of the June ’05 class)

16 The Results Performance Measures –Target 65/Actual Enrollment 63 –73% successfully completed the program –84% placed in employment –86% retention at 6 months –81%retention at 1yr ( figures do not include graduates of the June ’05 class)