Feature Grant Story

Bridging the Gap to Entry-Level Careers in Healthcare
The Centers El Barrio Workforce Development Center Focuses on Training for In-Demand Health Sector Jobs

During and post the Covid pandemic, as local community health centers and hospitals grappled with a growing shortage of staff for non-medical and frontline positions, the significant gap in entry-level workforce training opportunities and its impact on access to care delivery became increasingly evident. With a limited pool of qualified workers, the provision and delivery of healthcare services were at risk. Recognizing this unmet need was a pain point among Three Arches Foundation’s partners, The Centers took the lead in a collaborative initiative, leveraging its training framework to guide the effort alongside Cleveland Clinic, Neighborhood Family Practice and Recovery Resources. The proposed solution was to assess opportunities and barriers, conduct research, and explore development of a customized curriculum of basic skills and hands-on training to help improve recruitment and retention. The goal sought to link individuals with previously overlooked or inaccessible entry-level, non-licensed healthcare career pathways, simultaneously bolstering employment opportunities within the local Cleveland community. Read More