| Maryland Healthcare Workforce
Initiative
The Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation
(DLLR) and the Governor's Workforce Investment Board (GWIB)
received a $1.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor
(DOL) to implement the Maryland Healthcare Workforce
Initiative,
an innovative new program aimed at solving critical shortages
in Maryland's healthcare workforce. This grant is part of the
U.S. Department of Labor's $24.4 million High Growth Job Training
Initiative in Healthcare.
Teach for the Health of It/Incumbent Worker Training
The Maryland Healthcare Workforce Initiative combines scholarships
and incumbent worker training programs to address the State's
healthcare workforce shortage. The scholarship program, entitled
Teach for the Health of It, provides $800,000 in scholarship
funding to assist in addressing the shortage of qualified nurse
faculty within postsecondary education. Currently, capacity
in nursing programs is limited due to the lack of qualified
faculty. Teach for the Health of It provides scholarships: (1)
to assist interested and qualified Registered Nurses obtain
teaching credentials and teach in Maryland nursing programs
and (2) to provide scholarships to help nursing students complete
their education. The Teach for the Health of It program targets
partnerships between at least one healthcare provider institution
and at least one educational institution.
The remaining funding, $700,000, will be made available to
employers to assist in upgrading the skills of currently employees
within the healthcare industry. Unlike Teach for the Health
of It, the funding for Incumbent Worker Training is focused
on industry specific skills-based training, which results in
the acquisition of transferable skills or an industry-recognized
certification or credential. This program will lead to potential
career growth and increased wages for the employee. Employers
are required to provide matching funds for the upgrade training
activities. Training opportunities within nursing and allied
health fields are eligible for funding.
Contact Information
The Maryland Healthcare Initiative will be launched at the
end of August 2004. Applications can be submitted beginning
September 15, 2004. Questions and concerns 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
|
