SUBJECT: Approval to Accept on Behalf of the NOVA Consortium Funding through the San Francisco Bay Area Workforce Funding Collaborative in the Amount of $318,700 to Support Increased Regional Healthcare Training Capacity
REPORT IN BRIEF
The San Francisco Bay Area Workforce Funding Collaborative, a partnership between the State of California Employment Development Department and local philanthropic organizations, has awarded NOVA $318,700 in three grants. These funds will be used to support efforts to increase the capacity of local community colleges to train individuals in healthcare occupations and to support a Healthcare Navigator to create better links to training and employment. It is recommended that the Sunnyvale City Council, on behalf of the seven NOVA Consortium cities, authorize the acceptance of these funds and approve a subcontract with the Hospital Council of Northern and Central California.
BACKGROUND
The Bay Area Workforce Funding Collaborative, which was formed in early 2004, links public and philanthropic funders to build coordinated funding strategies in supporting sector initiatives. The collaborative is interested in funding efforts that have employer investment and buy-in and are closely coordinated with employers. In March 2004, the collaborative announced its first funding cycle in the healthcare sector. It issued a request for concept papers for workforce partnerships in healthcare. NOVA, realizing the healthcare staffing issue was reaching crisis proportions in our region, had begun to explore ways to increase training capacity to create new healthcare workers. NOVA submitted two concept papers to the funding collaborative, in partnership with the workforce boards of San Jose and San Mateo, several local community college districts, Kaiser Permanente, and the Hospital Council of Northern and Central California. NOVA was invited to submit full proposals for both concepts and was awarded three grants totaling $318,700.
EXISTING POLICY
The proposed activities are consistent with the City of Sunnyvale's Socio-Economic Goal 5.1F: Provide job training and employment services within constraints of operative, federal regulations and available federal funding, to address the locally-determined employment and training needs of economically disadvantaged residents and others with special needs.
DISCUSSION
In early 2004, numerous industry, education, and workforce development partners within San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties came together to strategize how to address the escalating healthcare staffing challenges within this region. These leaders realized that a comprehensive, unique approach would be necessary to truly effect systems change and to increase capacity within the existing system, resulting in the comprehensive Allied Health Training Initiative. The two proposals selected for funding represent part of this overall Initiative.
Community College Capacity Building
The first project is aimed at increasing the capacity and coordination of the Silicon Valley community colleges in providing healthcare courses. Focused dialogue among the leadership of the college districts, local employers, and workforce boards will explore other ways of providing healthcare training for adults (such as distance learning, more evening and weekend classes, and on-site hospital-based training). The project will provide funding for an individual to facilitate this effort for six months. The project will also provide funding for a minimum of eight additional sections of healthcare prerequisite classes for one year to address a current bottleneck to entering healthcare programs. This project has been funded by grants from the San Francisco Foundation ($83,500) and Workforce Investment Act funds from the State of California ($103,725). The Foundation funds will primarily pay for the cost of a coordinator and will also fund the development of a business plan.
Staff recommends a subcontract of up to $60,324 to the Hospital Council of Northern and Central California, which is a nonprofit hospital and health system trade association representing more than 200 hospitals throughout California. The Hospital Council will issue a Request for Proposals to fund a coordinator to provide leadership to this project for approximately six months and to create a business plan. In addition, the Council will encourage its member employers to serve on community college advisory boards for healthcare programs, provide “real-time” information on job opportunities, and encourage staff from member hospitals to serve as college faculty. One of its current priorities is to implement and support local programs to increase the supply of critical healthcare professionals. Due to its recognized expertise in this area, the Hospital Council is best suited to provide leadership to this project as a subcontractor.
The grants received also provide funding for additional sections of healthcare prerequisite classes for one year. Currently, one issue facing potential healthcare students is impacted prerequisite classes at the local community college classes. NOVA has issued a Request for Proposals to fund additional Microbiology, Physiology, and Anatomy courses, with a focus on classes in an accelerated format and/or at non-traditional times in order to accommodate working adults. The college districts of Foothill-De Anza, West Valley-Mission, San Jose-Evergreen, and San Mateo County are anticipated to each provide at least one new prerequisite section. The Regional Health Occupations Research Center is assisting in the coordination of this effort.
Healthcare Navigator
Funding in the amount of $131,475 has been awarded to fund a Healthcare Navigator position for approximately 18 months. The Navigator will be well versed in available allied health training programs, financial aid programs, and workforce opportunities. The Navigator will serve as a resource for one-stop staff as they guide clients interested in the healthcare field and will also work to develop a resource directory. The Navigator will serve the San Mateo, NOVA, and San Jose one-stops. The creation of this position will mean that job seekers will be aware of opportunities in the healthcare industry, and will have better-trained staff to assist them in a career transition. In addition, the Navigator will help the partnering organizations understand the pursuit of healthcare careers and the barriers involved from the perspective and requirements of the job seeker and thus encourage systemic change in programs and services. Efforts are currently under way to identify an individual for this position.
FISCAL IMPACT
There will be no fiscal impact to the City because funds received will offset program expenditures.
CONCLUSION
The Bay Area Workforce Funding Collaborative has awarded NOVA a total of $318,700 in three grants to fund two projects related to increasing healthcare staffing capacity in the region. Staff recommends that Council, on behalf of the NOVA Consortium, approves the acceptance of the funds and the award of a subcontract to the Hospital Council of Northern and Central California.
PUBLIC CONTACT
1. Public contact was made through posting of the Council agenda on the City's official notice bulletin board, posting of the agenda and report on the City's web page and the availability of the report in the Library and City Clerk's Office.
ALTERNATIVES
1. Council approves the acceptance of three grants from the State of California and the San Francisco Foundation totaling $318,700 and the awarding of a subcontract for up to $60,324 to the Hospital Council of Northern and Central California.
2. Council does not approve acceptance of the funds and/or a subcontract.
3. Other action as determined by Council.
RECOMMENDATION
1. It is recommended by staff that the Sunnyvale City Council, on behalf of the NOVA seven-city consortium, adopt Alternative 1: Council approves the acceptance of three grants from the State of California and the San Francisco Foundation totaling $318,700 and the awarding of a subcontract for up to $60,324 to the Hospital Council of Northern and Central California.
Reviewed by:
Michael J. Curran, Director Department of Employment Development
Prepared by:
Jeanette Langdell, Employment Training Manager
Approved by:
Amy Chan, City Manager