Overview

NCLR Health Care Career Pathways Initiative

As a critical component of its Workforce Development (WFD) efforts, the National Council of La Raza (NCLR) works with its Affiliates to link the nation’s future labor force with dynamic industries by creating innovative and replicable partnership models that prepare, retain, and advance Latino workers in quality careers. Through the NCLR Health Care Career Pathways Initiative, NCLR funds and strengthens existing Affiliate programs by incorporating strategies that support the upward mobility and skills acquisition of Latinos in the health care industry.

Data demonstrate that lack of or limited education and training, combined with language barriers, present significant challenges for large segments of the Latino workforce and their employment mobility. The NCLR Health Care Career Pathways Initiative integrates English-language acquisition and occupation-specific learning to improve language skills, soft skills, and job-specific skills. It also supports retraining and skills upgrades for incumbent workers who are earning low wages and have been unable to access education and training that will enable them to earn higher wages.

The initiative bridges entry-level training with more advanced coursework, using industry-specific contextualized curriculum. Higher level math, science, and writing often prove difficult for Latinos with low-academic achievement. Designing and teaching the subject matter in the context of their future work environment increases students’ interest and ability to learn and understand concepts. This further prepares them for the specific demands of the occupation for which they are being trained. The Health Care Career Pathways Initiative provides the training and support Latinos need to climb the high-demand allied health care career ladder.

NCLR has designed and is testing the Health Care Career Pathways Initiative in partnership with two Affiliates – Unity Council in Oakland, California and Instituto del Progreso Latino in Chicago, Illinois. The Unity Council program focuses on providing Latinos with training to become Medical Assistants and Dental Assistants. Instituto del Progreso Latino’s Carreras en Salud program trains Latinos to become Certified Nursing Assistants, Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs), and Registered Nurses.

Impact

At present, about 500 students are enrolled in the Health Care Career Pathways Initiative program at Unity Council and Instituto del Progreso Latino. Former participants who have graduated as Medical Assistants have been placed at an average wage of $14.50 per hour, and those graduating as LPNs have been placed at an average wage of $25.00 per hour, which represents an average 150% wage increase from previous employment.

Affiliate Partners

Instituto del Progreso Latino – Chicago, Illinois

Unity Council – Oakland, California