Reports > State Responses to Health Worker Shortages:
Results of 2002 Survey of States > State Details
> Washington Task
Force, Commission or Panel Scholarships,
Loan Repayment - The
Office of Community and Rural Health offers up to $25,000 annually in loan repayment
or scholarships to encourage primary care health professionals who are residents
of Washington State to serve in health care shortage areas of the state.
For
more information: Scholarship
and Loan Repayment Program
Career
Ladder Development - The
Employment Security Department provides $450,000 to train current workers for
career advancement.
- Local
Workforce Development Councils (local workforce investment boards) are developing
health care career ladders. For example, Pierce County WDC has established a partnership
with employers, educators, and labor to develop career ladders/maps so that students
may not only move up but laterally in the health professions. They have added
ESL components to health care courses.
Marketing
Health Careers - A
health partnership established by local Workforce Development Councils in NW Washington
has researched local labor market data for shortage healthcare occupations, qualifications
needed, and projections for future openings. This information was used to develop
a recruitment video available at Work Source Centers (one-stop employment service
delivery centers) and at job fairs.
- The
Department of Education has established career pathways for high school students.
These career pathways are designed to be integrated into the curriculum. One of
the career strands is health care.
Labor
Department/Workforce Investment Board - The
Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board (Workforce Investment Board)
has funding to set up partnerships between industry, education and labor. Between
2000 and 2002, 8 of 12 local workforce development areas have received grants
to establish these partnerships.
- The
U.S. DOL funded a consortium in NW Washington to support programs that expand
educational capacity.
Data
Collection - The
Washington State Hospital Association, in conjunction with the WWAMI Center for
Health Workforce Studies, surveyed 83 acute care hospitals in the state to gather
data on nurses and other allied health occupations.
Other - In
2002, the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges directed more than
$3 million in WIA funds (High Demand Program Grants) to expand educational capacity
in a variety of health care programs at community and technical colleges. Nineteen
separate programs were funded, with a projected additional capacity of about 3,000
students.
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