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A
Project of the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing, and
Regulation, Governor's Workforce Investment Board
I. Background and Information
In Maryland, as in the rest of the Nation, a crisis exists
in the form of a healthcare workforce shortage. The Maryland
Governor's Workforce Investment Board (GWIB) recruited employers,
State licensing boards, education representatives, the U.S.
Department of Labor, the U.S. Department of Defense, and allied
State agencies to form a Healthcare Workforce Steering Committee
charged with implementing a cluster-based approach to the healthcare
workforce shortage, the GWIB Healthcare Workforce Initiative.
The Healthcare Workforce Steering Committee researched current
and projected healthcare industry workforce demands in Maryland,
as well as best practices from around the nation for alleviating
the drastic healthcare workforce shortage. On August 28, 2003,
over 160 participants representing over 650 employers from the
healthcare industry, State educational systems, licensing boards,
and relevant State agencies attended the Governor's Healthcare
Workforce Summit in Annapolis. At this Summit, the participants
debated the previously researched workforce strategies and built
consensus for an action plan. One chosen strategy is to upgrade
the skills of current workers employed in Maryland healthcare
provider institutions.
The United States Department of Labor awarded $700,000
to the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation
(DLLR) to support Maryland's effort to help fund incumbent
worker training
programs that address workforce shortages in the healthcare
industry. Federal grant funds are available to provide matching
funds to the healthcare employer that develops training activities
for incumbent workers in allied health occupations.
II. Purpose of Program
Funds are available to businesses to train incumbent workers
for occupations that address documented workforce shortages
in the healthcare industry. The Incumbent Worker Training Program
is intended to be responsive to business needs as well as provide
appropriate and effective occupational skills training for existing
workers. The incumbent worker program allows current workers
to obtain skills in the healthcare professions, leading to potential
career growth and increased wages. In addition, once a current
worker has advanced, their former position is left vacant for
a new worker to fill.
This initiative is modeled after the innovative Maryland Business
Works program. Maryland Business Works was implemented in September
2003 with $1 million of funds from Maryland's Performance Incentive
Award from the Federal Workforce Investment Act (WIA). Employers
participating in the Maryland Business Works program are required
to match funding for upgrade training activities that assist
their employees in moving up the career lattice from entry-level
positions to family-sustaining jobs.
III. Program Eligibility and Target Criteria
Funds are specifically targeted for training projects with
healthcare providers (For-Profit and Non-Profit Sector Employers).
All applicants must be headquartered or have at least one permanent
physical location in Maryland. Funds awarded to business applicants
must be expended on employees working at the applicant's Maryland
facilities. Training should be approved only for full-time positions
that offer benefits.
Priority will be given to those employers who participated
in the Teach for the Health of It program. Consideration will
also be given to the geographic distribution of awards across
the state.
Training activities must be directly related to healthcare
occupations where there is a current documented workforce shortage
and/or a projected shortage for the future. Training needs and
costs must be reasonable, necessary and clearly related to the
purposes and activities of the project as described in a training
plan that is developed by the business applicant in conjunction
with staff from the local Workforce Investment Area.
The following types of activities and items are allowable training
costs:
- Classroom-based training, including training that is
designed to meet the specific requirements of a business
- In-house staff training
- Instruction provided by consultants
- Books and training materials
- Initial proficiency testing (for approved curriculum)
Grant funds may be used for up to 50% of the total training
costs (70% if the business participated in DLLR's Teach for
the Health of It program); the business is responsible for the
remainder of the costs. In addition, funds cannot be used for
capital costs, purchase of equipment, payment of employee wages
and/or benefits while in training, wage subsidies, or support
services such as child care, transportation costs, lodging costs
and meals for trainees.
Training projects will not be considered if the business is
not ready to immediately begin training activities. Business
applicants must be prepared to enter into contract negotiations,
and immediately begin training upon execution of a contractual
agreement with the local Workforce Investment Area. After an
award of funds, the business will then take the necessary steps
to make provisions for the training of incumbent workers in
specific, job-related skills.
| NOTE: |
Healthcare employers who released their staff to take
part in the Teach for the Health of It program are encouraged
to take part in the Incumbent Worker Training program as well.
Proposals from these employers will receive priority consideration.
Healthcare employers who did not take part in the Teach for
the Health of It program are also invited to apply for the Incumbent
Worker Training program. |
IV. DLLR Administrative Procedures
A. Local Workforce Investment Areas
Funds will be made available to the twelve Workforce Investment
Areas in Maryland (see attached list) to develop training projects
directly with healthcare providers. Workforce Investment Area
(WIA) staff shall work with healthcare businesses in their local
jurisdictions to discuss the business plan, training needs and
other available business services that are available to support/assist
the business. Eligible businesses shall develop projects (training
plans), select the most appropriate training vendor, and submit
applications for funding directly to the appropriate local Workforce
Investment Area using the procedures and processes established
by the local jurisdiction. If a healthcare business would like
to train incumbent workers in facilities that are in more than
one Workforce Investment Area, the business need only apply
to one. The Workforce Investment Area staff will make any necessary
arrangements with other areas.
Staff from the local area shall review the application to ensure
that the proposal meets all of the minimum program requirements
established by the State. After the local WIA has certified
that the proposal meets minimum program requirements, the application
for training funds shall be forwarded by email to DLLR via the
normal Maryland Business Works methods. Applicants will be notified
of decisions within 10 days after the receipt of application.
Applications and guidelines are available electronically at
the following websites: www.mdworkforce.com and
www.dllr.state.md.us.
Any questions should be addressed to:
Sharon Harris
Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation, Division of Workforce
Development
1100 North Eutaw Street, Room 616, Baltimore, Maryland, 21201
Phone: 410-767-2999, Fax: 410-333-5355
Email: hci@dllr.state.md.us
B. Request for Reimbursement (Payments to Businesses)
The successful healthcare business applicant is responsible
for taking the necessary steps to make provisions for the training
of its employees in specific skills that address workforce shortages
in the healthcare industry. The business is also responsible
for providing acceptable documentation to verify successful
completion of training and actual payment for training as well
as any performance/outcome information required as part of the
training plan.
The business applicant shall request payment for 50 percent
of the training costs from the local Workforce Investment Area
(70% if the business participated in DLLR's Teach for the Health
of It program). Prior to receiving reimbursement of the training
costs, the business must provide the following:
- Proof of successful completion of the approved training;
and
- Proof of payment by the employer for approved training.
C. Management Information Requirements / Performance Outcome
Information
At a minimum, the business participants shall be required to
track and report the following information regarding trainees
and training activities:
- Names and Social Security numbers of trainees;
- Type(s) of training programs /courses taken by each individual;
and
- Training completion information for each individual including
the acquisition of a recognized certification, credential and/or
other positive outcomes such as promotion/wage increase information.
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