School of Health Professions Awarded State Grant to Train Diverse New Yorkers for Healthcare Jobs

New York Institute of Technology will use a $250,000 grant from the New York State Department of Labor and the Long Island Regional Economic Development Council (LIREDC) to train individuals to become healthcare workers prepared to answer Long Island’s need for physical therapy aides, personal trainers, and healthcare workers with Spanish language skills. Additionally, to address the widespread nursing shortage, New York Tech will provide a registered nurse (R.N.) refresher course for R.N.s absent from the acute care setting for at least one year, providing those trainees with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to re-enter clinical practice.

This is the second workforce development grant New York Tech has received as part of New York State’s Workforce Development Initiative launched in May 2019 to support regional efforts that meet short- and long-term workforce needs, expand regional talent pipelines, and improve the economic security of women, youth, and other groups facing significant barriers to career advancement. Regional economic development councils, including LIREDC, played a key role in recommending applications for funding based on strategic regional economic needs and opportunities.

The School of Health Professions will recruit participants who are currently under- or unemployed, including people with disabilities, veterans, and other Long Islanders eager to pursue careers in the healthcare industry. It will leverage its established expertise in healthcare and workforce development and its extensive industry partnerships on Long Island and in New York City to help transition trainees from the classroom to meaningful employment.

“The School of Health Professions possesses the resources necessary to create a positive community impact that goes beyond the graduation of healthcare professionals,” says Corri Wolf, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Physician Assistant Studies. “Numerous individuals in New York are grappling with unemployment or underemployment. They need access to opportunities to lift them up and assist them in embarking on a new life-changing path. I consider it an honor to be a part of their journey.”

Stella Leandrou, an award manager in New York Tech’s grants office, says that “New York Tech’s Healthcare Service Training Project was brought to life through innovation and inspiration. Our success is a testament to the collaborative efforts of the New York Tech community. The unwavering commitment of many is playing a pivotal role in helping others explore and prepare for brighter futures and underscores the power of teamwork.”

Four certificate programs are offered:

• Personal Trainer
• Physical Therapy Aide
• Spanish for Healthcare Workers
• Registered Nurse Refresher

Thanks to the grant, all certificates will be offered 100 percent tuition-free. Course length varies and ranges from 50-62 hours. The first set will begin in October; registration is underway now. This $250,000 grant is expected to prepare 170 diverse New Yorkers with vital skills to obtain a job in healthcare.