News Archives - Page 5 of 11 - SEIU Healthcare 1199NW Multi-Employer Training Fund

The Training Fund’s 15-Year Anniversary Celebration

by kayla | Nov 7, 2023 | News | 0 comments

On Wednesday, October 25, 2023, members, education partners, healthcare employers and staff came together to celebrate the fifteen year anniversary of SEIU Healthcare 1199NW Multi-Employer Training and Education Fund (Training Fund). We celebrated our innovative labor/management partnerships that drive workforce solutions, our members and their successes, our work over the last 15 years and our hopes for the next 15 years. Attendees included member speakers, representatives from major healthcare employers across Washington, and local dignitaries such as SEIU Healthcare 1199NW President Jane Hopkins, and King County Executive Dow Constantine.

Celebrating 15 years of Healthcare Accomplishments

“Achievements are one of the things we’re here to celebrate. We are also celebrating partnership and perspectives. This is the cornerstone of what the Training Fund does.”

Laura Hopkins

Executive Director, SEIU Healthcare 1199NW Multi-Employer Training Fund

“I am really inspired by the member speakers … Thank you and congratulations. I’m always impressed by the Training Fund’s exceptional work and the impact 15 years of service has had on the healthcare community.”

Dow Constantine

King County Executive

Program participants and members shared their victories and stories. Labor and management partners spoke about the successes that have come from partnership with the Training Fund. Local politicians and leaders spoke about how the Training Fund is valuable for our communities.

“I would like to give my thanks from the bottom of my heart to the SEIU Healthcare 1199NW Multi-Employer Training Fund for helping me to pursue my dreams and making it possible to accomplish my aspirations”

Alex Knox

Nursing Assistant, MultiCare Deaconess Hospital

The event concluded with the presentation of the inaugural Diane Sosne Award by Diane Sosne on behalf of the Training Fund to King County Executive, Dow Constantine. The SEIU Healthcare 1199NW Multi-Employer Training Fund proudly recognizes Dow Constantine, King County Executive, as an exemplary partner for his significant contribution to the healthcare workforce and community; his passion and dedication to equity, access, and workers’ advocacy; and for being a champion of Labor-Management collaboration.

Thank you Dow Constantine, King County Executive, April Sims from Washington State Labor Council, SEIU Healthcare 1199NW, Kaiser Permanente Washington, Virginia Mason Franciscan Health, Providence Swedish, UW Medicine, MultiCare Health System, Providence health system, PeaceHealth St. Joseph, Neighborcare Health, and everyone else who made the evening a grand success!

“It was a FANTASTIC event. The people, presentations, personal stories, and celebration was incredible, along with the delicious food. WOW! Y’all know how to throw a celebration! I was honored to be a part of the event. SJI is excited and honored to be a collaborative partner with SEIU Healthcare 1199NW Training Fund. The combined efforts of local and regional partners have increased the positive impacts to our communities and healthcare industry.“

James Ramirez

Administration Service Manager , Seattle Jobs Initiative

“It’s really exciting to be able to see so many wonderful faces and people in the room tonight to be able to celebrate the great accomplishments of the Training Fund and how it has impacted and changed lives, not only in the workplace but think about the lives that have changed in our communities.”

Yolanda King-Lowe

Secretary-Treasurer, SEIU Healthcare 1199NW, SEIU Healthcare 1199NW Multi-Employer Training Fund Board Member

Learn more about our work and accomplishments over the last 15 years in our press release 15 Years of Advancing Healthcare Careers, Creating Career Pathways and Improving Patient Care across Washington.

Cover image of the Training Fund's 15 year anniversary booklet. Photos of members with a dark blue banner across the center "15 years 2008-2023 Creating opportunity and equity for our healthcare workforce community". Orange border and Training Fund and HCAC logos at the bottom.

Celebrating 15 years of Healthcare Accomplishments

The Training Fund’s accomplishments include:

Supporting more than 1,500 healthcare workers annually with Career Counseling services since 2018
More than $23.8 million awarded in federal, state, and private grants
Six Washington State-registered Healthcare Apprenticeships (spanning medical/pharmacy & behavioral health pathways)
106 pre-apprenticeship program participants since 2021
Career Connect Washington‘s Healthcare Sector Leader
167 certified Nursing Assistants have completed our NA-C training program since 2021
408 members have used Tuition Assistance to advance their careers and education in 2023 alone — 63% of them identify as BIPOC

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.

Pro/Tech Conference Travel Funding Award deadline is Dec. 1

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

The Pro/Tech Conference Travel Funding Award application deadline is right around the corner!

Did you know that we provide our Professional and Technical members with up to $1,500 per year (in reimbursements) to attend local and national conferences?*

Apply before December 1 for any conferences that you plan to attend in 2024.

Professional and Technical workers also have professional development money available to them.

Learn About Your PD Benefits

These benefits enable you to attend conferences, advance your career, and minimize personal out-of-pocket costs.

Here’s how it works:

Pro/Tech Conference funding can cover the cost of travel (hotel, transportation expenses, etc.) and registration fees.
Pro/Tech Professional Development benefits can cover the cost of attending a conference, e.g., registration fees.
Both benefits require members to earn Continuing Education Units (CEUs).

The deadline to apply for a Pro/Tech Conference Travel Funding Award is December 1.**

*Applications must be submitted before the conference.

**For conferences in 2024.

Apply Today!

Celebrating 15 years of Healthcare Partnerships!

by kayla | Oct 23, 2023 | News | 0 comments

On October 25, 2023, the SEIU Healthcare 1199NW Multi-Employer Training & Education Fund (Training Fund) marks its 15-year anniversary. This milestone event celebrates innovative labor/management partnerships that drive workforce solutions, and will bring together union members, healthcare employers, education partners, community-based organizations, and staff. Attendees will include member speakers, representatives from major healthcare employers across Washington, and local dignitaries such as SEIU Healthcare 1199NW President Jane Hopkins, and King County Executive Dow Constantine

The Training Fund is a labor/management partnership that brings together Washington’s biggest healthcare union and its largest healthcare employers to align on investing in workforce development and community representation. Established in 2008, the Training Fund has expanded beyond programs and services that promote career advancement for healthcare workers, to also implement several healthcare apprenticeships, pre-apprenticeships, and certified nursing assistant programs. This ground-breaking enterprise leverages the healthcare industry’s greatest strengths – its people and institutions – to collectively keep pace with this rapidly changing, ever expanding and highly complex sector.

The Training Fund’s accomplishments include:

Supporting more than 1,500 healthcare workers annually with Career Counseling services since 2018
More than $23.8 million awarded in federal, state, and private grants
Six Washington State-registered Healthcare Apprenticeships (spanning medical/pharmacy & behavioral health pathways)
106 pre-apprenticeship program participants since 2021
Career Connect Washington‘s Healthcare Sector Leader
167 certified Nursing Assistants have completed our NA-C training program since 2021
408 members have used Tuition Assistance to advance their careers and education in 2023 alone — 63% of them identify as BIPOC

Learn more about our work and accomplishments over the last 15 years in our press release 15 Years of Advancing Healthcare Careers, Creating Career Pathways and Improving Patient Care across Washington.

Our 15-year anniversary event celebrates our accomplishments, partnerships, and members. Together, we are creating opportunity and equity for our healthcare workforce community.

Program participants and members will share their victories and stories. Labor and mangement partners will speak about the successes that have come from partnership with the Training Fund.

The event will conclude with the presentation of the inaugural Diane Sosne Award.

The SEIU Healthcare 1199NW Multi-Employer Training Fund proudly recognizes Dow Constantine, King County Executive, as an exemplary partner for his significant contribution to the healthcare workforce and community; his passion and dedication to equity, access, and workers’ advocacy; and for being a champion of Labor-Management collaboration.

“Behavioral health care requires a skilled and experienced workforce, and King County is committed to investing in a system that puts workers at the center to best meet the needs of providers, patients, and the region as a whole. The Training Fund’s Behavioral Health apprenticeship program is so important, and King County is pleased to fund this collaborative approach that is advancing healthcare careers and building a workforce that will strengthen and enhance the behavioral health system overall. It is amazing to see the impacts of the last 15 years and to hear inspiring stories of these apprentices and their mentors.”

Dow Constantine, King County Executive

I want other people like me who are interested in health care to not give up on their dreams and make the most out of learning! I am so grateful for the help I got from the [Health Care Apprenticeship Consortium] which helped set a pathway for me to become an Orthopedic Surgeon…The teachers, nurses, and the people leading the program were all so friendly and engaging–they welcomed my curiosity and made me excited about a career in healthcare!

Narielle Mendoza

Tacoma-area high school student, 2023 NA-C Training Program graduate

“As we celebrate 15 years, the Training Fund is increasingly a go-to partner for healthcare workforce development and solutions across Washington and the region. We are proud of our accomplishments and of the many productive cross-sector partnerships that have brought them to fruition.”

Laura Hopkins, Executive Director, SEIU Healthcare 1199NW Multi-Employer Training & Education Fund

There are lots of people who are looking for advancement and who want to climb the ladder. But it’s so difficult working our job and it’s hard to be connected to the resources. It’s so helpful that there’s really one place that you can go to, like the Training Fund, for your continuing education and career needs.

Alex Knox

Nursing Assistant at MultiCare Deaconess

“It’s really important for everyone who works in healthcare to be able to have a career pathway. That’s what the Training Fund does for people. The Training Fund can change people’s lives. The Training Fund meets the needs of all of our communities—including low-income and communities of color. We are proud of the Training Fund’s 15 years of creating career pathways that enable caregivers to reflect the populations they serve and provide equitable access to meaningful work.”

Jane Hopkins, President, SEIU Healthcare 1199NW and Board of Trustees Co-Chair for the Training Fund

I didn’t think that I would be the first from my cohort to graduate and get my MA-C, but I did. My instructor was amazing – he made learning fun, and helped me believe in even furthering my education beyond a CMA for the future. I was able to pass the exam because I attended the study sessions.

And while waiting to get my license, I was offered a position to be an apprentice at UW Primary Care! It’s funny to think how things come full circle and you end up where you are supposed to be.

Kara Whitmus

CMA, Summer 2023

“We need healthcare workers desperately. The Training Fund not only helps with recruitment, but also with retention of workers. As we mark 15 years, the breadth of programs and services available to Training Fund members and participants continues to impact the lives of thousands of healthcare workers and, by extension, the care that their patients receive. At Providence-Swedish, we’re proud to have worked with the Training Fund on several innovative programs, including the Advanced Certification for EVS Technicians and the Culinary Pathway Program.”

Renee Rasilyer-Bomers, Chief Nursing Officer for Providence-Swedish and Board of Trustees Chair for the Training Fund

The multi-employer, labor-management partnership model allows the Training Fund to attract significant grant dollars to expand services for its members and the broader community. The Training Fund has received funding through multiple federal, state, and private grants, including more than $23.8 million in grant funding. We truly appreciate this important support from our funding partners. Special thanks to the following funders:

State of Washington Department of Labor & Industries
U.S. Department of Labor’s Healthcare Career Advancement Program Closing the Skills Gap Grant
King County American Rescue Plan Act Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds Grant
Seattle Office of Economic Development
Ballmer Group

Learn more about our work and accomplishments. Read our press release 15 Years of Advancing Healthcare Careers, Creating Career Pathways and Improving Patient Care across Washington

Additional Funding for RN members

by Mary Grace | Sep 20, 2023 | News | 0 comments

The Training Fund is pleased to offer our RN members additional Tuition Assistance and Professional Development funding for a limited period.

Funding is available on a first-come-first-serve basis, so apply now to maximize this opportunity!

Contact your Navigator to learn more and apply for these funding opportunities.

These amazing opportunities are available to support active RN members for two years or until available funds are exhausted, whichever comes first. If you have already spent your Tuition Assistance or Professional Development funding, you can apply now for additional Scholarship and/or Professional Development support.

RN Scholarship funding

Scholarship funding is additional Tuition Assistance (TA) support that is available to RN members who have already exhausted their existing TA funds. Similar to Tuition Assistance, this Scholarship funding is prorated based on the member’s FTE.

Who is eligible for Scholarship funding?

You are eligible for additional TA Scholarship funding if you:

Are an active RN Training Fund member who has been approved for Tuition Assistance (TA)
Have already spent what is already available to you through TA

How much Scholarship funding can I apply for?

Similar to TA, Scholarship funding is prorated based on your FTE. The total amount available to you per calendar year* is:

FTE	Scholarship Funding Level
0.75 – 1.0	$3,000
0.5 – 0.74	$2,250
0.1 – 0.49	$1,500

*while funds are still available

For how long is Scholarship funding available?

Scholarship funding is available to RN members who are actively using TA, and have already exhausted available TA. You can apply for Scholarship funding through 2025. This is a limited one-time opportunity, based on first-come-first-serve model until available funds are exhausted.

If you’re already actively using the TA benefit, you can apply for Scholarship funding for any eligible TA-associated costs.

What is not covered by Scholarship funding?

You cannot apply for Scholarship funding if you are:

not a current TA user.
currently on academic hold.
planning to apply this funding to cover retroactive costs

How do I request Scholarship funding?

Contact your Navigator to learn more and apply for this funding.

Note: You must be a current TA user to qualify for this funding. Not sure if you have signed up for TA or already spent your available TA? Contact your Navigator to find out.

Have questions about Scholarship funding? Contact your Navigator to learn more and get started.

RN Professional Development Support

A nurse applies for scholarships on their laptop.

Professional Development support is additional Professional Development (PD ) funding that is available to RN members who have already exhausted existing PD funds. It can be used to cover CEUs and courses, specialty certifications, and professional memberships.

Who is eligible for Professional Development support?

You are eligible to apply for additional PD support funding if you:

are an active RN Training Fund member
have already exhausted your PD funds

How much Professional Development support can I apply for?

Currently, RN members can apply for up to $300 as part of your core benefits. PD Support funding allows you to apply for an additional $200 (i.e., $500 total) to cover professional development and CEU costs.

For how long is Professional Development support available?

PD Support funding is available to RN members who have already exhausted available PD funds. You can apply through 2025. This is a limited one-time opportunity, based on first-come-first-serve model until available funds are exhausted.

What is not covered by Professional Development support?

You cannot use PD Support funding to cover retroactive costs.

How do I request Professional Development support?

Contact your Navigator to learn more and apply for this funding.

Note: Not sure who your regional navigator is? Not sure if you have already spent your available PD funds? Use the Find My Navigator tool to connect and find out.

Have questions about PD Support funding? Contact your Navigator to learn more and get started.

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.