Maine Health Care Sector Grant

Funding

The Maine Health Care Sector Grant (HC Grant) is a $4.9 million grant awarded to the Maine Department of Labor (MDOL). The HC Grant is funded by the Employment & Training Administration of the United States Department of Labor (USDOL) through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The goal of the project is to increase the training, education and employment of credentialed health care workers in Maine by February 1, 2013. 

Grant Funding Objectives

A. Unemployed, Dislocated or Low-Wage Earner Training
As of October 1, 2011, 137 unemployed, dislocated or low-wage earner trainees have been enrolled in grant funded training. Training funds are targeted toward trainees who will earn their nursing degree, allied health or Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) credential by February 1, 2013.

An application round targeted toward unemployed, dislocated or incumbent low wage workers residing in Hancock, Penobscot or Piscataquis County is currently open.  Trainees interested in and qualified to participate in one of the following training programs are encouraged to apply:

• An innovative Health Information Technology (HIT) training pilot program that will prepare trainees for entry level employment as patient registration clerks, unit secretaries, medical office assistants and medical billing. Training includes 360 classroom hours, 60 hours of WorkReady program and internship hours.  Application deadline for HIT training is May 7, 2012.

• Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) training program. In conjunction with participating in CNA training, selected applicants must agree to participate and complete a WorkReady Certificate Program.  Applications for CNA training will be accepted until remaining slots are filled.

Click here for an application

B.  Incumbent Worker Training
Upgrading the skills and credentials of incumbent health care employees is a major focus of grant funding.  There are currently 290 incumbent trainees enrolled in grant funded training to advance their skills and credentials.  Agreements are in place with 29 employers to backfill the openings created by their advancing employees with “new hires”.  

Applications are not being accepted at this time.

Grant funds have been distributed to employers requiring cost assistance for employee training that will:

• Result in incumbent trainee attainment of credential by February 1, 2013 in high demand allied health occupation(s)
• Result in expanded clinical or training capacity in high demand allied health occupation(s)

AND that meet and document one of the following American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) grant required conditions per incumbent trainee listed:

• Training/credential will result in incumbent receiving a wage gain by 2/1/2013
• Training/credential will enable incumbent to move from part-time to full-time employment status
• Training/credential is a requirement of incumbent’s continued employment

C.  Expansion of Nursing Clinical Training Capacity
Reducing the clinical-training waiting list for admissible nursing students is a primary grant focus. Grant funding is being used to develop innovative projects that result in:

• an increase in the availability and flexibility of clinical training facilities
• an increase in the number of qualified RN clinical instructors
• training clinical instructors in the use of simulation equipment
• long-term, expanded capacity to provide clinical training in nursing

Applications are not being accepted at this time.

Employer/Educational Institution Application Scoring Priorities
Because identified need exceeds available resources, applications will be scored to assure that the most critical training demands and required grant outcomes are met. Priority will go to applications that result in:

• Address of current skill gaps in occupations that are (or will be) in high-demand by the Health Care industry
• Expanded training capacity in regions in which it is not currently available
• Expanded clinical training slots (RN/Other)
• Upward mobility of existing and new-hire workers
• Innovative partnerships between industry and education
• Long term solutions to current training capacity issues
• Significant leverage of non-federal funds
• Attainment of targeted occupational credentials before or by 2/1/2013

Targeted Occupations

The Maine Health Care Sector Grant targets training for the following occupations: 

• Clinical & Nurse Instructors
• Registered Nurses
• Certified Nurse Assistants
• Allied Health Occupations* in high demand by region

*Allied health occupations are defined as health professionals working in the health care sector, (excluding nurses, doctors and dentists), requiring specialized training. Allied health occupations identified as being in high demand in Maine include, but are not limited to the following professions:  phlebotomist, medical lab technician, medical coding, radiology technician, respiratory technician, surgical technician, physical therapy assistant, occupational therapy assistant, and pharmacy technician. Demand for various allied health care professionals varies by region.       
Allowable activities the grant funds may be used for include the following:

• Training/curricula development
• Tuition, books fees, and instructor costs - for classroom training
• Training materials and supplies
• Fees for technical or professional certifications
• On-the-job training (OJT) wage subsidies leading to permanent employment
• Related instruction costs for registered apprenticeship
• Internship programs leading to full-time employment
• Customized training leading to full-time employment
• Skill/career assessments
• Job search & placement assistance
• Career counseling
• Case management
• Comprehensive retention strategies
• Trainee support service

Career Pathways and Building Partnerships in the Health Workforce Sector

The grant also includes objectives to strengthen the health workforce sector. These include:

• improving access to information about health care career pathways and training options;
• building and strengthening partnerships between employers, educators, health professionals and others to help develop a skilled health care workforce in Maine.

The United Stated Department of Labor provides two powerful web based tools to assist job seekers find out more about the skills needed to be successful in various professions; whether or not specific professions are predicted to be in high demand; what a job pays and locate education providers and current job openings.

My Skill My Future is primarily designed for career changers and those wishing to advance their careers www.myskillsmyfuture.org

                                               

 

For those new to the workforce or for high school or college students; the My Next Move website makes it easy to explore a variety of career options www.mynextmove.org

The USM Muskie School of Public Service has been contracted with to do research and recommend career pathways and workforce planning models and tools specific to Maine. These will help inform and guide Maine workers into health careers that may be of interest to them and in demand by employers.

The Muskie school also provides support and coordination to the Maine Health Workforce Forum. Made up of employers, educators, health professionals and others, the Forum was established by the Maine Legislature to help inform and make recommendations to policy makers about the health workforce needs of the state. For information about the Health Workforce Forum go to:  http://www.mainehealthworkforceforum.org

For your additional information:
Health Workforce Forum
Sally Sutton
(207) 228-8158

Maine Health Care Sector Grant funds must be expended by February 1, 2013.

The Maine Health Care Sector Grant is funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act through the United States Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration and the Maine Department of Labor. This project provides equal opportunity in employment and programs.

The Maine Health Care Sector Grant is funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act through the United States Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration and the Maine Department of Labor. This project provides equal opportunity in employment and programs.