Mayor Weinberger Officially Launches New Workforce Training Program for Licensed Nursing Assistants
Thirty-five students from Burlington’s Underserved Communities Enrolled
Burlington, VT – Today, Mayor Miro Weinberger officially launched the first-ever Community & Economic Development Office (CEDO)-Licensed Nursing Assistant Workforce Training program ‘Moving On, Moving Up’ at a press conference at Cathedral Square Assisted Living. The year-long project encompasses 10 weeks of specialized training for five groups, a total of 35 students. Eligible trainees who complete this free training, and successfully pass the state licensing test, will apply for and receive the Vermont State Board of Nursing licensure as a Licensed Nursing Assistant.
The program kicked off on May 24, 2021 with seven students drawn largely from Burlington’s Black, Indigenous, persons of color (BIPOC) population, including immigrants and refugees, and the second cohort will begin July 13. The ‘Moving On, Moving Up’ program, a partnership among the University of Vermont Medical Center (UVMMC), Cathedral Square and Ethan Allen Residence, will upskill and re-skill students to fill the scores of open positions at the UVMMC and other assisted living/long-term care facilities.
“The experience of the Covid-19 pandemic has made the essential nature of caregiving and healthcare services crystal clear”, said Mayor Miro Weinberger. “As we work together to make progress on both our economic recovery and tackling racism as a public health emergency, I have great hope that the Moving on, Moving Up program, and hopefully future programs like this will have a real and immediate impact – by supporting BIPOC Burlingtonians in moving into meaningful and well-paying careers and by expanding both access and equity in healthcare across our region.”
'Moving On, Moving Up’ launches against the backdrop of the coronavirus pandemic and the associated job losses that have disproportionately affected Burlington’s low-to-moderate-income workers, women, and persons of color, including immigrant and refugee populations. Many of the beneficiaries of this training will be persons who were previously unemployed or employed in low-wage sectors.
The CEDO-LNA Workforce Training program is being delivered by TLC HomeCare, a local, minority, nurse-owned and operated organization specializing in-home care and healthcare staffing services. Founded in 2006, TLC HomeCare operates with a team of licensed, bonded, and professional care providers and employs a staff of over 300 healthcare professionals throughout Vermont and New Hampshire.
CEDO Director Brian Pine said, “This program was built to meet the needs of employers in the healthcare and long-term care industries, but more so to meet the needs of Burlington’s underserved populations, including BIPOC and immigrants and refugees who have historically experienced the greatest economic marginalization, and will be even more vulnerable without an intentional and concerted effort to center their needs and ensure equitable participation in the region’s recovery from Covid-19.” He added that, “CEDO’s focus on workforce development intentionally and explicitly prioritizes equitable economic recovery and improving job quality for local residents.”
The Program has three principal components: (i) a technical course which is conducted remotely (ii) laboratory (in-person) training and (iii) thirty-two hours of paid, hands-on supervised clinical experience. Eligible trainees who complete this free training, and successfully pass the state licensing test, will apply for and receive the Vermont State Board of Nursing licensure as a Licensed Nursing Assistant. The training also makes provision for each cohort to receive six (6) hours of professional development delivered by ReSOURCE, which will cover topics like Problem Solving, Time Management, Critical Thinking, Customer Service and Workplace Communication. The professional development training also entails preparation of resumes and mock job interviews.
With their LNA certificates in hand, the program will work with successful students to support them with their job search and job placement efforts. For graduates seeking to further their careers in health care, having an LNA certificate is a key step up the career ladder.
Built into the CEDO-LNA Workforce Training is a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I) component. Specifically, students who undertake their clinicals at Cathedral Square and Ethan Allen Residence will each receive three (3) hours of DE&I training. Managers and supervisors of these facilities will also be participating in this training.
The Program also provides wraparound support to ensure that students have the best chance of success. These include Chromebooks for those students who are in need, transportation and child-care assistance.
To date, there has been overwhelming interest in the LNA Workforce Training program, based on the number of applications received. Upcoming LNA training sessions are July 13, September 8, October 26, and December 13, 2021.
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