Office of Public Health Workforce Development Joxel Garcia, MD, MBA Commissioner

Labor Issues b b Low unemployment rate nation and statewide b b Average age of professional nurse is 46.5 b b 60% of nursing work force works full time b b 23% works part time b b 17% of licensed nurses do not work in the profession

Labor Issues b b CT. Dept. of Labor expected nursing opportunities to increase by 33% from 1996 to 2006 b b From 1994 to 1999, increase in CT nurses was 2.9% b b Student population from CT nursing schools declined from 925 in 1994 to 584 in 1999

Labor Issues b b CT ethnic and racial minorities increased significantly in last decade b b Multicultural growth creating market in health care industry b b Gender and racial disparities in CT nursing professions

Office of Public Health Workforce Development b b Lies within Commissioner’s Office b b Study, monitor, and evaluate workforce issues, including Professional workforce shortages Public health worker competencies b b Work in partnership with other interested parties

Partners b b Centers for Disease Control b b CT Hospital Association b b Local Health Directors b b UCONN b b Departments of Education & Labor b b Professional Trade Organizations b b LTC Facilities b b CT Nurses Association b b CT National Guard

Office Goals b b Enhance public health work force competencies through development of a public health work force certification program at: State Local Institutions of higher education levels

Office Goals b b Establish marketing program to recruit and retain diversified public health workforce

Office Goals b b Provide direct access to the Office of the Commissioner by the: Community Healthcare practitioners/providers State agencies Institutions of higher learning Others b b To address broad range of workforce issues

Office Goals b b Establish “Health Tracks” for children starting in elementary school and following through primary and secondary education b b Collaborative effort with the Department of Education and local school systems b b Establish tutorial opportunities

Office Goals b b Expand information available via Internet b b Web to serve as clearinghouse for health career information b b Resource for students, guidance counselors, teachers, and public

Objectives b b Short Term Objectives 2 year – –10% increase in Work Force applications – –20% increase in urban students’ applications to health care programs – –Forecast Workforce needs – –Data Collection system

Objectives b b Long Term Objectives 5 Years – –Eliminate Nursing Shortage – –Increase by 40% application rate to health care fields – –Increase continued education of GED graduates by 30% – –Forecast Market Trends and adjust proactively – –Workforce to match State demographics

Current Initiatives b b Work Force Data Collection – –High schools – –Higher education – –Market b b Marketing – –Middle & High Schools – –Faith Based Institutions – –Community Groups

Current Initiatives b b Mentoring – –DPH, UCONN, Private Sector – –Internships – –Career Shadowing b b Inner City Work Force Development – –GED programs – –Traditional Schools – –Churches – –“House Calls” – –“Door to Door ”

Current Initiatives b b “House Calls” Senior Citizen health education campaign b b “Door to Door” Health education campaign targeted at urban communities Partnership with urban housing authorities, faith- based institutions, community groups, etc 2-3 hour events featuring health experts each event audience specific

Keeping Connecticut Healthy Commissioner Joxel Garcia, MD, MBA