Workforce programs at Finger Lakes Performing Provider Systems and Monroe Community College got a boost with an $11 million investment.
The funds from the American Rescue Plan Act, disbursed by Monroe County, aim to address nursing shortages. Monroe County Executive Adam Bello touts the ARPA investment as a long-term solution to the shortage of skilled health care workers.
The FLPPS Long-Term Care Workforce Program will use $5.5 million to establish career pathway systems with skilled nursing facilities that will cover training costs, tuition and other employee-related expenses for certified nursing assistants, licensed practical nurses and registered nurses, officials say. The program expects to expand service capacity with participating facilities and home health care agencies.
FLPPS has also been awarded $5.5 million for a partnership with MCC’s Transforming Lives Through Nursing Pathways program. The funding will help grow and bolster clinical programming at MCC to serve more students. It also offers academic success coaches to nursing students and wraparound support services such as child care and transportation.
“I am excited that FLPPS is partnering with MCC, skilled nursing facilities, and local training organizations and workforce experts to develop stronger, equitable and high-performing workforce development systems,” says Carol Tegas, FLPPS CEO. “These innovative programs will provide educational and training opportunities to individuals that are pursuing a career in health care and include wraparound support to ensure achievement of academic and career goals. Working together, we are providing opportunities for individuals to achieve economic mobility.”
Robin Cole, vice president of economic and workforce development and career technical education at MCC, says the college is committed to building a stronger nursing workforce pipeline to fill openings at area health care organizations.
“The Transforming Lives Through Nursing Pathways initiative is a shining example of the profound, positive impact achieved through collaborations among industry, academia and government, including with Monroe County, the Finger Lakes Performing Provider System and University of Rochester Medical Center,” Cole says.
Executives at UR Medicine and Rochester Regional Health also are upbeat about the program expansions. They see it as a way to not only address the health care staffing shortage but also to help with recruiting and training high-quality nurses.
This project was selected as part of Bring Monroe Back, Monroe County’s plan to use ARPA funds. The county has received more than $144 million in federal dollars.
Smriti Jacob is Rochester Beacon managing editor. The Beacon welcomes comments and letters from readers who adhere to our comment policy including use of their full, real name. Submissions to the Letters page should be sent to [email protected].
No comment heh? Well I for one am impressed, encouraged and hopeful with the 11m funding!
Money well spent! I hope that our urban youth will get the chance, the opportunity to benefit from that funding. They have the capacity to do so, they have that inner gift to give back. They have the ability to care for those who are hitting a rough health patch in their earthly journey. Reach out to them, encourage them, because it is not just doing things right, but also doing the right thing. Como-on Rochester, get it in gear. Step up and make it happen!
Semper Fi.