Originally called the Health Care Workforce Consortium, the Healthy Economy Committee is one of five committees of the Genesee Valley Health Partnership. The Health Care Workforce Development Consortium was formed in March 2002 to address the inadequate supply of qualified health care workers in Livingston County and to develop strategies to promote health care career choices and vocational training opportunities. Leading the Consortium were Franklin Bassett, R.N., LNHA, Long Term Care Director, Livingston County Skilled Nursing Facility, and Keith Mitchell, Director, Livingston County Office of Workforce Development.
The goals of the Health Care Workforce Consortium included:
1. Zero vacancy rate in nursing positions in the county.
2. Improve awareness and image to youths and dislocated workers of health care career opportunities.
3. Develop a screening and candidate assessment model.
Through the partnership of local leaders in the educational, health care and business community, the Health Care Workforce Consortium completed a number of awareness initiatives to expose both prospective workers and students to health care careers:
• Along with the GLOW WIB (Workforce Investment Board), the committee developed a series of “Pathway” publications that offer health career information in the fields of technician, nurse, and therapist. (See ‘Related Documents’ below to view the Pathway publications.)
• Two health career fairs were also planned by the Livingston County Business Education Alliance (BEA), Rural AHEC (Area Health Education Center) and the Workforce Consortium. Held at York Central School district, the career fairs were attended by middle school students from around Livingston County.
• Hosted by NOYES Hospital and the Livingston County Skilled Nursing Facility, the committee developed an Academy of Science and Health (MASH) camp for 7th and 8th grade students in the summer of 2003. Students learned what health professionals do each day by participating in fun, hands-on activities that highlight the health professional’s job duties, skills, and technology.
• The Workforce Consortium helped to re-establish an LPN vocational training program at the Genesee Valley BOCES in Mt. Morris.
Through these activities, the Workforce Consortium may have helped Genesee Community College boost its nursing class enrollment from 50% to 100%.
The group is presently in transition and may become the Healthy Economy Committee, as part of the Genesee Valley Health Partnership. The committee will maintain a focus on increasing awareness of healthcare careers in Livingston County, as well as careers in other select industries.
Activities slated for summer 2004 include:
• MASH Camp will be repeated again in July 2004 with the GVHP underwriting expenses allowing an additional 16 Livingston county students to explore health careers.
• Health Careers Summer Academy, a weeklong career-building experience on the University Buffalo campus, will be co-sponsored by the University of Buffalo and Western NY-Rural AHEC (Area Health Education Center).This opportunity allows Livingston County junior year students to explore a variety of health care fields. Participants will live on campus and learn first hand what it takes to succeed in the various health fields, including medicine, nursing, pharmacy, dentistry and public health. The GVHP will provide scholarships for up to five students to attend.
The committee also works to augment existing County efforts in the areas of economic development and attracting more economic growth. In this way, the committee is focused on:
1. Addressing the out-migration of the Livingston County workforce due to lack of employment opportunities.
2. Increasing awareness of workforce development initiatives.
Contacts:
Keith Mitchell, Committee Chairman
Director, Workforce Development & Youth Bureau
(585) 243-7047
ckmitchell@co.livingston.ny.us
Franklin Bassett
Long Term Care Director
Livingston County Skilled Nursing Facility
(585) 243-7200
fbassett@co.livingston.ny.us Related Documents: |