Building Partnerships, Programs, and Processes for Rhode Island’s Healthcare Systems
Mission
The Office of Economic Opportunity created PVD HealthWorks (in 2017) to meet the growing demands of the healthcare and social assistance industry in Rhode Island. The innovative program strives to invest in the skillsets which enhance the working potential of a career-ready talent pool. As the state’s healthcare intermediary, we develop partnerships that will create diverse training pipelines, career pathways, and other workforce solutions for the demands of employers and individuals in the healthcare and social assistance industry.
Interested in Exploring A Career in Healthcare?
Our program is your connection to Providence’s largest, growing sector with unique opportunities to directly impact and improve patient care. Do you have what it takes to work in the medical field?
HealthWorks Medical Assistant Program
PVD HealthWorks Medical Assistant Program provides a multipronged technical training offered by Rhode Island College, Community College of Rhode Island, and the Office of Economic Opportunity. Instruction and experiential learning will be provided 5-days per week for up to 24 weeks. Upon completion of the program, participants will receive a certification of completion, academic credits from Rhode Island College and the Community College of Rhode Island, stipends, and experiential learning at one of our healthcare employer partners.
If you want to help others, be part of a team, and prove you have what it takes in the medical field, then check your pulse and attend the PVD HealthWorks Medical Assistant Information Session.
Successful candidates will have: high school diploma or GED certificate, pass a national criminal background check, read at a seventh-grade level or higher, U.S. citizen, permanent resident or have employment authorization card, and highly motivated to learn clinical skills in the healthcare field. Bilingual candidates encouraged to apply.
Attend an Information Session
PVD HealthWorks will teach you emergency medical services focused on skill-based, hands-on learning exposing you to real life healthcare situations.
You will learn about life-saving measures, how to earn certifications, expand your network, and find healthcare job opportunities through American Job Centers.
If you want to help others, be part of a team, and prove you have what it takes in the medical field, then check your pulse and attend the PVD HealthWorks Career Exploration Information Session at the Providence One Stop, netWORKri, 1 Reservoir Avenue, Providence, RI.
Talent Management
Our demand-driven programs will match skills of new and incumbent workers to the training of high demand employer workforce needs. We connect qualified healthcare and social assistance professionals with employers looking for top talent. PVD HealthWorks actively fosters system solutions around shared needs to maximize employment capacity and access for healthcare workers while filling open positions with skilled talent. We will source, recruit and invest in the right talent meeting the demands of healthcare employers. PVD HealthWorks also provides case management, work readiness, cultural sensitivity, mentorship, and supportive services to remove barriers giving our talent the resources necessary for their long-term success in healthcare employment.
Stakeholder Relations
PVD HealthWorks strives to maximize external employer stakeholder relations across high demand healthcare and social assistance service areas, collaborate with other industry intermediaries, local and national partners, community-based organizations and educational institutions.
Our current and new partners include: Lifespan, CVS Health, Care New England, CharterCARE, Providence Community Health Centers, Genesis Center, St. Elizabeth Community, Rhode Island College Professional and Continuing Studies, The Community College of Rhode Island College, Leadership Rhode Island, American Safety, Life Skills, Dorcas International, Crossroads RI, Amos House, Providence Housing, Operation Stand Down, Indian Council, Workforce Solutions, Apprenticeship Rhode Island, Executive Office of Health and Human Services, Rhode Island Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals, Healthcare Career Advancement Program, 1199 SEIU NE, The Community Provider Network of Rhode Island and Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training.
Pre-Apprenticeship Framework
PVD HealthWorks employs a competency model of skill development utilizing experiential learning and mentorship. Where appropriate, credentialing and certification is sought to assure that future employees meet quality standards and align with existing workplace requirements.
A Cohort Model
Our phased approach supports training cohorts of new and incumbent workers for the demand-driven healthcare careers. The goal of the cohorts is to build an environment that emphasizes collaboration and team building; a valuable asset in today’s workplace. The cohort model invites student participation, fosters creativity, builds leadership skills, and generates a sense of community.
Viable Employment & Career Pathways
The pathway to employment focuses on high demand occupations and invests in the right talent with the right competencies and skills to support the healthcare and social assistance labor market. We have a multi-pronged talent approach focusing on elevating the competencies of dislocated workers, upskilling incumbent workforce, lived experience, vocational rehabilitation, veterans, and youth. PVD HealthWorks partners with statewide healthcare organizations to expedite the matching of skilled talent into available career pathways.
PVD HealthWorks
Demand-driven programs:
- Medical Assistants I
- Pharmacy Technicians I (coming soon)
- Direct Support Professionals (coming soon)
- Dental Assistants I (coming soon)
- PVD Youth Programming:
- PVD MED
- PVD First Responders
- PVD Junior Assistant (coming soon)
- PVD Junior Support Professional (coming soon)
Youth Programs
PVD HealthWorks and Care New England Health Systems are partnering to provide 70+ summer and year-round healthcare and social assistance internship opportunities offering enhanced workplace learning for high school and college students to “earn while you learn” gaining exposure and skills in healthcare.
PVD First Responders Program
The Office of Economic Opportunity and Providence Public Safety will be expanding the work of its Real Jobs RI Partnership, PVD HealthWorks, through the development of PVD First Responders Program including three tracks in the summer pathways; PVD MED, PVD FIRE and PVD POLICE. The mission of PVD First Responders Program is to improve diversity in healthcare, fire safety, and law enforcement professions through pipeline programs for youth while serving at-risk youth through education, career development, and health promotion.
Quantifying Outcomes
With an eye to the future, PVD HealthWorks core priority is to accelerate strategies to create pathways for targeted healthcare growth by delivering workforce solutions with care. PVD HealthWorks is focused on sustainable outcomes to build capacity and bring to scale workforce development programs impacting the workforce landscape of healthcare in Rhode Island. Together, we can impact the culture of health for all people, communities, and families here in Rhode Island.
Our Successes
The main goals accomplished for the first phase funded by Real Jobs RI were:
- Expanded access to training and graduated 23 Medical Assistants and 18 Direct Support Professionals that are aligned to employer-defined competencies.
- PVD HealthWorks has piloted an industry-specific talent acquisition model assessing interest, aptitude, and readiness, to select and retain the right talent for the programs. PVD HealthWorks participants are gaining the skills and competencies needed in the workforce. As of April 2019, 33 participants have gained viable employment and there is 100% job retention.
- Expanded and placed 80 Care New England Health Care System summer and year-round internships in partnership with DLT 2018-2019 and 60 are still employed as of April 26, 2019, in partnership with DLT.
- Expanded and placed 20+ RINI-MC summer interns 2018 in partnership with Real Jobs RI.
- Continue to grow PVD HealthWorks.
