Over the past year, Workforce Southwest Washington has been making a significant impact on the local healthcare sector, investing an $800K grant to train and place individuals in high-demand healthcare careers.
The grant funds were put into partner organization, WorkSource, the region’s one-stop employment center to provide the services. To date, 36 people in Southwest Washington have secured quality jobs as dental assistants, medical assistants, nursing assistants, pharmacy technicians, and registered nurses through the Washington Jobs Initiative (WJI) grant.
The initiative’s goal is to train individuals and connect them with local healthcare providers that are eager to hire qualified professionals. Organizations such as Kaiser Permanente, Legacy Health, PeaceHealth, PharMerica, Rebound Orthopedics, The Vancouver Clinic, Walgreens, and Willamette Dental are participating in this effort, offering employment opportunities to those completing their training.
In total, 42 individuals have enrolled in training programs through the initiative, with 36 completing their training and securing employment. These individuals are now earning a median annual wage of $42,640—far above minimum wage and providing them with stable, rewarding careers.
One success story is Rory (name changed for privacy). Initially working as a home care aide, Rory quickly realized that the hours and pay were not enough to support her growing family. She decided to pursue her CNA certification, knowing it would lead to better job prospects. After attending an Employment and Training orientation at WorkSource in Kelso, Rory began working with job coaches to create an employment plan that included CNA prerequisites such as Medical Terminology and Nurse Delegation.
When facing financial hurdles and a family emergency, Rory received crucial support from her job coaches, including gas assistance and community resources. When she encountered a childcare issue during her job search, her job coaches found free childcare resources, allowing her to focus on her job hunt. Thanks to this wrap-around support, Rory successfully landed a full-time CNA position at $21.67 per hour. The unwavering support from WorkSource helped her achieve her career goals.
The $800K grant is designed to provide these same opportunities to individuals aged 18 and older in Clark, Cowlitz, and Wahkiakum counties, equipping them with the training, resources and job placements needed to thrive in the healthcare field.
WorkSource is the key partner in this initiative, helping participants access training funding and providing vital support services to address barriers such as transportation, childcare, language assistance, financial coaching, and career navigation.
For those interested in learning more about the program or finding out if they qualify, contacting WorkSource in Vancouver or Kelso is the first step.
Visit www.worksourceswwa.com for center addresses and phone numbers.
- In Clark County, contact Krishna Banerjee at krishna.banerjee@esd.wa.gov or call at 360.735.5122.
- For residents of Cowlitz and Wahkiakum counties, contact Rikki Smick at rikki.smick@esd.wa.gov or call at 360.578.4227.
The Washington Jobs Initiative is lead by the Washington Student Achievement Council and funded from the Economic Development Administration through the U.S. Department of Commerce’s American Rescue Plan Good Jobs Challenge grant.
WSW’s PY24 Washington Jobs Initiative program is supported by a Economic Development Administration American Rescue Plan award. $581,633 (100% of total) is financed by Federal funds.
