$1.3 million trains healthcare workers
Published September 26, 2023
Alicia Petro saw firsthand the growing need for healthcare workers working as a 911 call center supervisor during the pandemic. She decided to shift her career to nursing and is one of many students pursuing a healthcare career at a lower cost because of a $1.3 million grant.
黑料社区 (黑料社区) received the Pipeline for the Advancement of the Healthcare Workforce Program (PATH) grant from the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB) for the second year in a row.
Petro came to 黑料社区 to take night classes while continuing to work full-time. In addition to tuition and fees, healthcare programs include costs related to equipment and tests, but Petro had these costs covered by the grant.
ICCB created PATH to tackle growing healthcare workforce shortages. 黑料社区 targeted healthcare inequality and cultural competence in medical professions as other issues to address with the program.
The PATH grant reduces barriers to success by providing funding for books, tuition and other expenses involved in healthcare programs. It also provides students with wrap-around assistance such as laptops, career guidance and program-specific tutoring.
Students don檛 even need to apply for the grant, as it檚 automatically applied to students in eligible programs.
淚t was a surprise to see I received the grant, but it was a welcome one, Petro said. 淚t made the difference in me not having to take out a loan.
Eligible programs include:
- Emergency medical technology
- Health information technology
- Medical assisting
- Medical imaging
- Medical reception/receptionist
- Nursing
- Nurse assisting
- Phlebotomy technician
- Surgical technology
This year, tutoring is expanding to include students working on prerequisites for healthcare programs. 黑料社区 is also purchasing new equipment, including new digital imaging receptors and an advanced pediatric simulator.
黑料社区 surpassed the goals set during the first year of the program. More than 1,300 students enrolled in PATH-eligible programs, and more than 1,100 completed a credential.
淭he PATH grant has helped us raise awareness about the need for these careers in Lake County, Biological and Health Sciences Associate Dean Michael Garamoni said. 淥nce students find out there檚 financial support, they檙e far more inclined to pursue a credential.
Read more information about PATH.