EastMetro Health Careers Institute St. Paul, MN.

East Metro Health Careers Institute St. Paul (as of March 2001) Population: 386,000 Largest concentration of Hmong in U.S. (25,000) 57 different languages spoken in school system 1,325 unfilled jobs among the East Metro hospitals 22% vacancy rate for nursing aides, orderlies, attendants 2.5% unemployment rate 60 day average to fill healthcare positions 15,750 community residents (surrounding hospitals) over age 18 and below the poverty rate Phillips Health Careers Institute started in Mpls in 2000

East Metro Health Careers Institute The Model Hospitals will collaborate, rather than compete, on workforce development. Programs and classes will have college credits and be brought to the student. Career laddering will be built into all programs and classes. Recruitment will be aimed at low-wage workers, recent immigrants and current entry-level hospital employees. Training will be offered based on occupational need within the hospitals. Graduates will be offered positions within two months of program completion. Funding will come from the employer, the philanthropic community and the public sector.

East Metro Health Careers Institute The Partners Hospitals: Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare, HealthEast, Regions Hospital, United Hospital. Employ 15,000 people in 6 hospitals, 6 nursing homes and 15 clinics. Century College & Saint Paul College Offer 16 health career programs Workforce Solutions Employment & training department of Ramsey county (offers placement and retention support)

East Metro Health Careers Institute Timeline Aug ‘00 Phillips Health Careers Institute (Mpls) started. Feb ‘01 St. Paul hospitals meet with county workforce development agency to discuss problems with workforce recruitment and retention. Apr ‘01 Allina foundation sends consultant to St. Paul with resources to fund start up of Health Careers Institute based on successful Mpls model. St. Paul hospitals commit to funding request. May ‘01 Common job vacancies identified. Program courses set. Jul ‘01 Students recruited. Site developed. Philanthropic grant received. Aug. ’01 Classes start. Nov. ’01 First nursing assistants graduate and are placed. Dec ’03 Hospitals commit to fund for three more years. Jan ’04 City includes Health Care Training facility in its bonding bill.

East Metro Health Careers Institute Recruitment Residents of high unemployment, low median income St. Paul neighborhoods Hospital employees HCI pays tuition & books for qualified students, as well as helping with placement & retention services. Tuition reimbursement is advanced and supplemented. Students must take college assessment tests before taking classes.

East Metro Health Careers Institute Student Body 37% Caucasian 30% African American 19% African5% Asian 4% Hispanic2% Native American 1% multi-racial2% other 80% Female 51% have at least one dependent child 39% have been hospital employees. (This spring, 88% are hospital employees.)

East Metro Health Careers Institute Programs & Classes Offered at HCI site EnglishReadingSpeech Medical TerminologyNursing Assistant Math Nursing Assistant/ESLEthics for Health Care Professions Spanish for Health Care Professionals Offered at college sites Anatomy & PhysiologyLPN classesRN classes Radiology Tech classesOther program prerequisites

East Metro Health Careers Institute As of Feb Total enrollment225 Graduates hired156 Positions hired forNursing Assistant, Personal Care Attendant, Phlebotomist, HUC, Home Health Aide Nationality of hires41% Caucasian, 59% non-Caucasian 31% recent immigrant One year retention rate74% Number of students 104 continuing LPN, RN & Rad tech continuing programs

East Metro Health Careers Institute Statistics Average wage gain –For non-hospital employees 37% –Projected for hospital employees 20-55% Average hospital cost per hire$3731 Average hospital cost per 1 yr. retention$8681* *overstates cost as currently enrolled students who are in the middle of their programs are not accorded a value

East Metro Health Careers Institute

Students Jennifer M. has two children and was on public assistance when she took the HCI nursing assistant class in the Fall of She was hired by GCSH in Dec She currently earns $13.54 /hr. and is off public assistance. Tigest G. was hired by United to work in food service. She enrolled in the Nursing Asst./ESL class in spring 2002 and was promoted to Nursing Asst that summer. Filmon K. was unemployed until Regions hired him as a PCA in Jan He enrolled with HCI to take the LPN program, which he will complete this year, after which he will enroll in the accelerated RN program. Katasha W., single mother of 2 young children was initially hired as a housekeeper for $10.05/hr. She took the HCI phlebotomy class and was hired as a lab assistant earning 12.22/hr. She is now taking computer training so that she can become an LST2, earning $14-$15 hr.

East Metro Health Careers Institute Challenges Complexity of communication among institutions Competition among institutions (for employees, for funding, for recognition, etc.) Difficulty of making specific job projections for “just- in-time” job training Funding

East Metro Health Careers Institute What I’d Do Next Time Ask that unions be at the table from the beginning to help with planning. Ask for a minimum of a six year commitment from the participating institutions. Ask all the institutions to commit actual dollars to the effort (schools, hospitals, public entities, WIB, etc.)