The Health Careers Collaborative of Greater Cincinnati (HCCGC) came together in 2004 as a collective partnership among healthcare and education institutions, and community agencies to envision and create an industry driven comprehensive Healthcare Career Pathway. The four industry and education partners are; Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, the Health Alliance, Great Oaks Institute of Technology & Career Development and Cincinnati State Technical Community College. Community partners include; Dress for Success-Cincinnati, Mercy Neighborhood Ministries, Inc and the Super Jobs Center. The overarching goal of the career pathway has been to empower families and individuals to achieve economic stability and self-sufficiency.

“To train and develop a pool of excellent healthcare workers that meets the needs and exceeds the expectations of employers in order to enhance the economic and social growth of our community. ”

The HCCGC provides unemployed and low income adults in Greater Cincinnati and entry-level incumbent employees of Cincinnati Children’s and the Health Alliance with case management, job readiness training, employment, job retention strategies, career advancement services and access to post-secondary education via a career pathway. The career pathway is a system of connected educational and training programs and support services that prepare and enable employees and community residents to navigate in a cohort setting through the difficult transition to successively higher levels of education and healthcare employment.

The first level of entry in to the career pathway focuses on the unemployed and those in greatest financial need, with the goal of training and entry into the healthcare workforce as either a State Tested Nursing Assistant (STNA) or Health Unit Coordinator (HUC). The training can be completed in a 9-12 week short-term course that provides job readiness and professional training as well. These positions were selected because they consistently have job openings available and offer starting wages of $10-13 per hour.

The second level of entry provides career advancement opportunities for low-wage entry level incumbent healthcare workers of Cincinnati Children’s and the Health Alliance. These individuals may or may not have participated in the first level of entry of the career pathway. Participants receive assistance to strengthen basic academic skills, up-front tuition reimbursement and enroll in 1 of 4 Associate Degree programs (Nursing, Surgical Technology, Respiratory Care or Multi-Competency Health). These programs have been selected by the two healthcare industry partners to meet their current and projected staffing needs.

Entry level healthcare certificate training and employment

• 88% completion rate
• 82% job placement
• 88% received fringe benefit with new job
• Average starting rate-$12.15 an hour

Incumbent employee career pathway education and advancement

• Average cumulative G.P.A 3.24
• 83% cohort retention rate