trainingfund, Author at SEIU Healthcare 1199NW Multi-Employer Training Fund

Tuition Assistance deadline is October 15

by trainingfund | Aug 20, 2024 | News | 0 comments

Training Fund members can apply for Tuition Assistance (TA) to cover school-related costs like tuition, books, and other fees for approved programs at accredited and approved schools.

The deadline to apply for Tuition Assistance for courses beginning January 2025 or later is October 15, 2024.

Note: If you’re currently an active TA user, you do not need to re-apply for this benefit.

Tuition Assistance Snapshot: In 2021, 1,061 members used Tuition Assistance to support their education goals. Maximum TA amounts are: $3,500 for Service Bargaining Unit members, and $5,250 for Pro/Tech and RN Bargaining Unit members.

Apply early to receive expert guidance and support from our education Navigators! You do not have to be admitted into a program or know the details before applying for Tuition Assistance – our Navigators are available to work with you and create a plan to succeed.

Note: If you’re currently an active TA user, you do not need to re-apply for this benefit.

The TA benefit is based on your Bargaining Unit and FTE:

Service members maximum Tuition Assistance has increased for limited time from $3,500 to $5,250/year. Learn More
Pro/Tech members maximum Tuition Assistance is $5,250/year
RN members maximum Tuition Assistance is $5,250/year. Additional $3,000/year RN Scholarship is available while funding lasts. Learn More

How to apply for Tuition Assistance:

Complete a Training Fund member application to connect with an Intake Coordinator and Resource Specialist, and get assigned an Education Navigator
Work with your Navigator on an education plan and resources while Tuition Assistance spots are allocated
Register for classes & submit your request for funding, if you qualify for Tuition Assistance
Explore other benefits with your Navigator, e.g., career counseling and tutoring.

My Training Fund Navigator was really great. He walked me through the whole process: applying to the Training Fund, qualifying for Tuition Assistance, and then sending me resources for scholarships to keep my costs as low as possible.

When I was unsure about things, he would reach out on my behalf to help me navigate. He definitely went above and beyond!

Paisha Andersen

Nursing Assistant , MultiCare Deaconess

The year is ending, don’t miss out on funding!

by trainingfund | Nov 6, 2023 | News | 0 comments

Submit for tuition assistance, education, training, or professional development funding by Dec. 31. The Training Fund encourages you to submit your funding requests and supporting documentation early to make the deadline.

Tuition Assistance

Submit your funding request for Tuition Assistance using this request form.

Professional Development

Eligible Professional Development activities can be reimbursed using these forms.

Nurse Specialty Certification & Professional Development

As an eligible RN, you can be reimbursed up to $300 per year for CEUs/courses, specialty nurse certification exam and re-certification fees, and professional memberships (providing CEU access). Use these forms under the Nurses (RN) tab.

Member Spotlight: Nkechi Odigwe

by trainingfund | Aug 6, 2023 | Success Story | 0 comments

A banner featuring Nkechi Odigwe's picture next to text that reads "Our Members Say it Best!"

Nkechi Odigwe, currently an on-call CNA at MultiCare Auburn Medical Center, is unafraid to reach for her dreams.

Two years ago, Nkechi was a Nutrition Assistant at Multicare Auburn. She wanted to work toward being a nurse, but knew that there were many obstacles: prerequisites, tests, program costs, applications, and more.

So she reached out to the Training Fund, which she had heard about from her co-workers. After talking through her career options with a Training Fund staff member, Nkechi enrolled in prerequisite courses at Highline College.

She also found the Training Fund’s tutoring service for the TEAS exam very helpful. Nkechi notes that the Training Fund “supported me during my nursing prerequisite classes and when I wanted to take my TEAS exam [with] workshops, online tutors, and study books.”

Nkechi’s Training Fund navigator Joshua Porter (now the Training Fund’s Director of Labor/Management Programs) encouraged her to reach out to local nursing schools for admission. Pretty soon, Nkechi applied and had offers from multiple schools. Joshua helped Nkechi, she says, by “going through my personal statement, resume and cover letter before I submitted it.” Nkechi also got a letter of recommendation from the Training Fund for her nursing residency.

Nkechi will graduate from Pierce College’s ADN program this spring! After preparing for and passing her NCLEX exam, Nkechi will then work toward her BSN through UW-Tacoma’s RN-to-BSN program.

Training Fund navigators make it easy for members to clarify questions and achieve their goals. Nkechi writes, “The advice and guidance from [Porter] was very helpful. Anytime that I am confused on what to do and call him, he will get back to me without delay.”

Nkechi wants her coworkers to know that the Training Fund can help them, too: “The Training Fund will help them to advance in their career as they are working and achieve their goal in life. All the assistance and support that they need for their education dream can come from the Training Fund.”

Contact us today to find out how you can achieve your career and education goals through your Training Fund benefits!

Training Fund and HCAC Host BH Pathways Event

by trainingfund | Jun 14, 2023 | News | 0 comments

On June 20, the Health Care Apprenticeship Consortium (HCAC) and Training Fund hosted stakeholders from across the state invested in developing educational pathways to behavioral health degree programs. Faculty, administrators, and HCAC staff members gathered to brainstorm ways to meet the state’s behavioral health needs through educational pathways across the state system.

Cynthia DeRocher, an apprentice in the Behavioral Health Technician program, spoke at the event. She said, “The opportunity to do the apprenticeship program and work at the same time has been such a blessing. My employer has been great about accommodating any needs I have. The program has provided any and all resources including their time to assist with any questions on how to do what’s needed to be successful.”

She continued: “I have had help from my teacher on how to format my papers. There is tutoring available, you can schedule a session for help with writing your papers. All the material we need and go over in class is available through the Canvas program which is amazing. Everything necessary for success is available.”

Training Fund ED Laura Hopkins alongside Behavioral Health Tech apprentices Jessica Ramirez and Cynthia DeRocher.

HCAC and the Training Fund are committed to addressing the needs of the state’s behavioral health workforce. The Behavioral Healthcare Apprenticeship Program is a registered statewide apprenticeship program that directly responds to these needs and aims to: promote accessibility to services, build a pathway of skilled and diverse candidates, and stabilize the behavioral health workforce through increased employee motivation and retention.

This innovative program offers three career pathways to address specific areas of concern:

Behavioral Health Technician: 1-year program
Peer Counselor: 1-year program
Substance Use Disorder Professional: 2-year program

Learn more at our webpage highlighting the three programs and sign up to stay up-to-date.

From High School to NA-C: Narielle Mendoza

by trainingfund | Mar 29, 2023 | News | 0 comments

As a high school senior, Narielle Mendoza has a busy schedule: classes, tests, extracurriculars. But that didn’t stop her from becoming a Nursing Assistant-Certified (NA-C) earlier this year with the Health Care Apprenticeship Consortium (HCAC).

In collaboration with Tacoma Public Schools, HCAC now offers an innovative NA-C training program for high school students. As the healthcare needs of the state grow, so too does the need for trained healthcare workers. HCAC’s NA-C training program offers a roadmap to filling that need.

Through the program, Narielle learned the ins and outs of life as an NA-C by taking part in classroom work and in-person labs. She even did her clinicals at Multicare Tacoma, shadowing nurses there and putting her skills to the test: “I actually got to use that information [from class and labs] and expand on my knowledge…[It was rewarding] seeing patients in real life and seeing nurses and doctors and other health care professionals. It was truly amazing and inspiring and I got the greatest experience from that.”

Narielle is passionate about helping others live their best, healthiest lives. The NA-C training program’s staff ensured that her passion was met with expert guidance. Narielle credits the instructors: “The teachers, nurses, and the people leading the program were all so friendly and engaging. They welcomed my curiosity and made me excited to have a healthcare career.”

Narielle had family support along the way, too. Her father, himself a CNA, offered her constant encouragement and guidance. They bonded over her experience in the NA-C program: “He loves healthcare as much as I do and is always inspiring me to see how much you can make a difference to help people who need care.” Narielle’s father gave her some timeless advice, too: learn from your mistakes.

Now, Narielle is set on finishing out her senior year of high school before college begins. She plans to spend this summer working at a nursing home, where she will put her NA-C skills to use: in her words, she will “assist in taking vital signs and measurements such as urine, weight, and blood pressure; feeding; dressing; cleaning; hygiene care; and assisting in exercise.”

With ambitions of becoming an Orthopedic Surgeon, Narielle’s journey is just beginning. Through the HCAC’s NA-C training program and Tacoma Public Schools, she has taken a big step toward living out her dreams. To all the prospective NA-C program applicants, Narielle offers these wise words: “It might be a tough journey to reach your goals, but keep going because you will be proud that you conquered so much. Your next journey is even more fulfilling for people looking up to you to save their lives!”