Introduction to Healthcare employment and Apprenticeship Program (IHAP)
First Pierce County Cohort with Arivva
The Training Fund’s Introduction to Healthcare employment and Apprenticeship Program (IHAP) trains entry-level job seekers for healthcare careers. IHAP was developed by the Training Fund’s Health Care Apprenticeship Consortium (HCAC) and is implemented in partnership with Seattle Jobs Initiative (King County) and, more recently, Arivva (Pierce County). Diversifying the healthcare workforce and generating opportunities for under-represented and currently unemployed individuals is a key focus of this program.
Dan Bissonnette, Executive Director, explains why Arivva opted to partner with the Training Fund: “Our organizational missions matched. Arivva seeks to serve unemployed and underemployed individuals living in Parkland and throughout Pierce County through no-cost job training programs that result in living-wage jobs on a sustainable career path. The Training Fund opportunity was a perfect match for us to bring IHAP to Pierce County.” Arivva’s first IHAP cohort demonstrates this program’s positive impact on the local community.
IHAP consists of two Phases: Phase 1 is a free 3-week training program that provides introductory overviews of healthcare career opportunities, professional development, and wraparound support services for participants. Phase 2 is an 8-week Certified Nursing Assistant (NA-C) training program for those who want to pursue the introductory phase and obtain NA-C certification. The focus is on teaching practical skills and medical terminology while providing structure and a positive environment to foster growth and achieve success. In this manner, IHAP generates entry pathways while also removing barriers to education.
Participants in this first cohort appreciated the valuable skills they had learned over just a few weeks, such as resume-building and interview skills. IHAP creates a community to support participants every step of the way. IHAP instructor Ben Gonzalez explains,
“This kind of program is empowering, and I love what it does for the community. I like inspiring the students, reminding them of their power, feeding their ambitions, and providing them with tangible skills to take forward into job interviews and further.”
The diverse voices and experiences in this first Arivva IHAP cohort are inspiring!
Ben Gonzalez, Instructor
Kenah Dimasius Kum (left), Guilain Kanane (right)
Guilain, who immigrated from the Democratic Republic of Congo, has been in the US for four months and is pursuing his dreams. He shares, “Back in Africa, I was born and grew up in a war zone. I saw a lot of people dying from gunshots or bombs; that is where my passion started. You feel like you can’t help. Since childhood, I wanted to one day become a doctor. When I came to America, I got the opportunity to join this program.” Guilain plans to pursue the NA-C training program and says, “I feel so happy, and I can achieve my dream. I want to eventually become a surgeon.”
Denise is a mother of two adult children and reminds us, “It is never too late.” She explained her interest in a healthcare career: “I have been passionate about healthcare since I came to America. I have had multiple caregiving positions all throughout the last several years – and these only grew when I later became a patient myself. I was moved by how well I was taken care of, both in the hospital and afterward in rehab. I really appreciate that this is a free program, and all the opportunities arising out of this. I would like to explore working in a hospital setting and patient care, maybe a rehab facility.”
Denise Moisescu
IHAP is an important entry for those wanting to build a healthcare career. But more significantly, it simultaneously strengthens and diversifies our healthcare workforce. “Many, many jobs for the Certified Nurse Assistant in Pierce County have gone chronically unfilled for a long time,” says Dan Bissonnette. “IHAP provides an introduction to healthcare careers and, specifically, no-cost NA-C job training. This opens avenues for individuals who previously could not access such training.”
Perhaps what is most amazing about IHAP is the sheer diversity of career goals and opportunities within the healthcare industry. Just within this pilot cohort, IHAP participants expressed a range of interests and aspirations:
Jaisona’s goal is to be a radiology technician. She chose IHAP because she wants career stability for herself and her two-year-old daughter.
Jon, inspired by his mom, who was an RN for 60 years, is entering the medical field after an 18-year military career and a long history of manual labor. He wants to work in telemedicine and is interested in potentially becoming a cardiac monitor technician.
Kenah, who recently immigrated from Cameroon, plans to complete the NA-C program and become a medic or a nurse.
Diamond is starting a new career in the medical field while also encouraging her grown daughter to pursue a degree or work in healthcare.
Noelani was inspired by multiple family members who are all nurses. Due to her own medical issues, she was also frequently in hospitals as a young girl and wants to eventually work in Pediatrics.
IHAP offers participants multiple opportunities through a single entry point—and provides them with structure, support, and encouragement along the way. The opportunities are endless, and no matter where you start, the Training Fund can help you finish!