Welcome to the Training Fund, Kaiser Permanente of Washington SWEA, OT, and PT members
Welcome to our new members at Kaiser Permanente of Washington! We are thrilled to have Social Workers Employee Association, Physical Therapists, and Occupational Therapists join the Training Fund. You will be eligible for our programs and services beginning January 01, 2024.
We offer education and career advancement programs so that you can develop your skills, advance your career, and improve your professional opportunities. After you have been employed by Kaiser Permanente for 90 days you have access to:
- Career and education counseling services
- Educational support services
- Professional Development support
GET STARTED: fill out our online member application.
Professional Development Support
You belong to the Professional/Technical bargaining unit.
Reimbursement up to $300/yr:
- CEUs/Courses
- Specialty Certifications: National Certifications exams or courses/review materials that prepare members for those exams.
- Professional Memberships: Membership in professional organizations that provide access to CEUs as a benefit of membership
FREE access to unlimited CEU courses through HealthStream
Please contact your Training Fund navigator to learn more.
Professional/Technical Conference Funding
As members of the Professional/Technical bargaining unit, you have an additional professional development benefit. Attend a conference relevant to your field! You can apply for up to $1,500 per year to attend professional conferences. Funding can cover costs for conference registration, travel, and hotel. Pre-approval is required and funding is awarded quarterly.
Tuition Assistance
Members who have already worked at Kaiser Permanente for more than one year may also qualify for Tuition Assistance now!
Tuition Assistance covers tuition, fees, and book costs for a wide variety of healthcare education programs at regional colleges and universities.
We encourage you to contact your Navigator and start working on your education plan.
If you are currently in school and have already been receiving Tuition Reimbursement from your previous Education Fund, you may be able to add Tuition Assistance from the Training Fund.
To begin the Tuition Assistance process, submit a Member Application form at the link below.
“Many of us working in Mental Health already have massive student loans from grad school. Not having the means to take the additional specialty training that we are passionate about limits our ability to serve patient populations who really need us, and also limits the longevity of our careers. When our only option for advancing our education or skill set is a reimbursement, it creates inequities and barriers to those of us who don’t have the resources to front the money. And those who historically have enough access, support, and resources for advanced study don’t always represent the demographics of our patients’ population. Having a therapist with a shared identity and shared life experiences brings so much value to the care we’re able to provide to our patients.
It’s never been more clear, post-pandemic, that we need to prioritize mental healthcare but we don’t have enough providers to meet the community need. That’s why we fought really hard to show Kaiser the values of investing in us and investing in mental healthcare. I’m so proud that our employer stepped up and agreed to do this work with us.
The Training Fund allows us to invest in our careers and better serve our patients, without having to pull from our personal food, housing, or other budgets. Especially for BIPOC folks, the Training Fund opens doors and gives many of us access. I hope that this will extend beyond just Kaiser and our own careers, and also help change the face of mental healthcare.”
“During our recent contract bargaining, we fought for and won many victories. One that I was personally excited about was the inclusion of PT/OT into the SEIU Healthcare 1199NW Training Fund. Access to the Training Fund can help pay for conferences (travel, hotel, etc.), APTA/AOTA memberships, certifications, and study materials.
In some cases, it allows for us to apply for money up front, as opposed to having to wait several weeks for reimbursement. This is a great win for so many of us who are cash strapped, paying off student loans, and living in this wonderful but oh-so-expensive region.“
We look forward to serving you as you pursue your education and career goals.
If you have questions or need help applying, please don’t hesitate to call our office (425-255-0315) or email us.
