HEET Grant Funded Education Programs
Through state grant funding, we work with local colleges to create programs for working adults like you that offer unique opportunities and support towards your next career.
Current HEET Programs
Nursing Pathways at Bellingham Technical College
Program partners: This program is a partnership between Bellingham Technical College, SEIU Healthcare 1199NW, PeaceHealth Saint Joseph’s Medical Center, and the Training Fund.
Goal: To create inclusive, accessible nursing programs for healthcare workers.
- Increase incumbent workers’ access to local nursing programs.
- Strengthen existing curriculum with new culturally-sensitive and behavioral health information.
- Provide ongoing support to enrolled students.
Program details:
- This program is for healthcare employees interested in nursing or pre-nursing pathways who are enrolled in related classes at BTC.
- Students can attend programmatic or prerequisite classes.
- BTC’s Associate Degree in Nursing program is full-time or part-time.
Resources: Training Fund members can apply for tuition assistance, childcare funding, transportation funding, tutoring, and more!
Click here to submit an interest form!
Contact us to learn more:
SEIU 1199NW Training Fund: connect with your regional education navigator (Training Fund staff directory) or complete the free, online Training Fund application to get started. You can reach the main Training Fund office at (425) 255-0315 | | https://healthcareerfund.org/
Bellingham Technical College: Jennifer Tachiyama, Student Support Specialist – | 360-752-8481
Part-Time LPN & Worker-Friendly LPN-BSN Pathway at Green River College
Advance your nursing career with the part-time LPN program or the LPN-to-BSN program today!
Are you a Medical Assistant or a pre-nursing student ready to earn your LPN? Are you an LPN looking to earn your BSN? The part-time LPN and worker-friendly LPN-to-BSN programs are for prospective and frontline incumbent healthcare workers in the South Puget Sound.
Program Partners: This program is a partnership between Green River College (GRC), SEIU Healthcare 1199NW, UFCW 3000, Kaiser Permanente of Washington, MultiCare, and the Training Fund.
Eligibility: Training Fund Members and UFCW 3000 members are eligible for additional support and resources. Medical Assistants can earn prior learning credits toward the LPN program (which lightens the course load).
Program features:
- Small class sizes that foster a positive learning experience
- Hybrid Learning, 1-2 days per week of in-person coursework
- Supportive cohort model
- Students can work as an LPN while pursuing their BSN
- Program students receive extra funding support through the college
- Clinical sites and experiences in the community and acute care settings are designed to meet learning needs and help you grow as a nurse.
Resources:
- Training Fund and UFCW 3000 members have access to career navigation support.
- Training Fund members can apply for tuition assistance, child care funding, transportation funding, tutoring, and more!
Click here to submit an interest form!
Contact us to learn more:
SEIU 1199NW Training Fund: connect with your regional education navigator (Training Fund staff directory) or complete the free, online Training Fund application – please note UFCW MultiCare staff– need to apply here to get started. You can reach the main Training Fund office at (425) 255-0315 | | https://healthcareerfund.org/
Green River College: Anna Drury, Student Advisor & Faculty – | 253-833-9111, 6889
Worker-Friendly Surgical Tech AA at Renton Technical College
Surgical technologist is a sustainable and high-paying option for those who are looking for non-nursing or pre-nursing career paths.
Program Partners: This program is a partnership between Renton Technical College (RTC), SEIU Healthcare 1199NW, Virginia Mason Franciscan Health, UW Medicine Valley Medical Center, Swedish Health Services, and the Training Fund.
The Surgical Technologist Associate of Applied Science Transfer degree is adapted from the existing Surgical Tech program. Over 80% of RTC’s Surgical Tech program graduates secure a surgical tech job upon graduation.
Eligibility:
- The program is for incumbent healthcare workers.
- Prerequisite classes are required for the Surgical Technologist pathway.
- No prerequisites are required for the 2-quarter, 30-credit hour, Central Service Technician (CST) program – an excellent pathway to surgical technology.
Resources:
- Training Fund members will receive education navigation during the program.
- Training Fund members can apply for tuition assistance, child care support, transportation support, tutoring, and more!
Click here to submit an interest form!
Contact us to learn more:
SEIU 1199NW Training Fund: connect with your regional education navigator (Training Fund staff directory) or complete the free, online Training Fund application to get started. You can reach the main Training Fund office at (425) 255-0315 | | https://healthcareerfund.org/
Renton Technical College: Anthony Knox, Program Manager & Instructor (Central Service Technician Program) –
Nursing Career Pathway: How to Become a Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory (Cath Lab) and Interventional Radiology (IR) Nurse at Seattle Central College
Program Partners: This program is a partnership between Seattle Central College, SEIU Healthcare 1199NW, Virginia Mason Franciscan Health, Swedish Health Services, and the Training Fund. This project aims to address the shortage of Cath Lab and IR nurses in WA.
Eligibility: Pre-nursing students interested in a Cath Lab or IR career can apply to Seattle Central College’s hybrid Associate Degree in Nursing program to work toward a residency.
Resources: Training Fund members can apply for childcare and transportation support, tuition assistance, tutoring, and more!
Click here to submit an interest form!
Contact us to learn more:
SEIU 1199NW Training Fund: connect with your regional education navigator (Training Fund staff directory) or complete the free, online Training Fund application to get started. You can reach the main Training Fund office at (425) 255-0315 | | https://healthcareerfund.org/
Seattle Central College: Karin Ng, Program Manager (HEET Grant) –
Equity and Access for Pre-nursing and Nursing at Highline College
Program Partners: This program is a partnership between Highline Community College, SEIU Healthcare 1199NW, Virginia Mason Franciscan Health, UW Medicine Northwest Hospital, Swedish Health Services and the Training Fund. This project aims to address equity challenges in nursing education.
Goals: To create a more diverse nursing field, Highline is working to simplify and improve nursing advising, create a worker-friendly schedule, and prioritize incumbent workers for enrollment. A new TEAS (Test of Essential Academic Skills) entry exam course offers learners focused support to equip themselves with necessary skills as they apply to nursing programs.
Eligibility: Training Fund members are encouraged to apply to Highline College to earn prerequisites or join the Highline’s nursing program.
Resources:
- Training Fund members can receive ongoing career support and academic pathway navigation.
- Training Fund members can apply for childcare funding, transportation funding, technology funding, tuition assistance, and more.
Click here to submit an interest form!
Contact us to learn more:
SEIU 1199NW Training Fund: connect with your regional education navigator (Training Fund staff directory) or complete the free, online Training Fund application to get started. You can reach the main Training Fund office at (425) 255-0315 | | https://healthcareerfund.org/
Highline College: Heydie Martinez Gonzalez, Pre-Nursing Navigator – | 206-592-4259
Enhancing Curriculum and Pathways for Underrepresented Populations and Resiliency in Nursing at Shoreline Community College
Program Partners: This program is a partnership between Shoreline Community College, SEIU Healthcare 1199NW, UW Medicine Northwest Hospital, Swedish Health Services, and the Training Fund. It aims to expand diversity, equity, and inclusion in the nursing program.
Program Features:
- Shoreline has adapted two of its required nursing prerequisite classes to better focus on healthcare (Statistics and English 101, with a special focus on healthcare).
- 6 Nursing Program seminar courses were developed to focus on the skills students need for nursing school and the transition into nursing practice. These courses foster student success and incorporate themes of resilience, equity, and inclusion.
- A selection of courses can be completed online or in hybrid (in-person) format. Personalized support from a Nursing Student Navigator is provided to both prospective and current nursing students.
Resources: Training Fund Members can apply for tuition assistance, childcare funding, transportation funding, tutoring and more.
Click here to submit an interest form!
Contact us to learn more:
SEIU 1199NW Training Fund: connect with your regional education navigator (Training Fund staff directory) or complete the free, online Training Fund application to get started. You can reach the main Training Fund office at (425) 255-0315 | | https://healthcareerfund.org/
What is HEET?
HEET Grants are used for curriculum development and modification, to fund equipment to train incumbent workers, create systems to grant credit for prior classes, to fund support for students, to create program recruitment and retention, to hold symposiums, and more!
Each year, the Training Fund participates in multiple new and continuing HEET projects that enable our members to achieve their education and career goals.
HEET Grant Objectives
HEET Grants seek to:
- Enhance hospital workers’ access to college education.
- Lead to increased capacity of the college system in nursing and other high demand healthcare fields.
- Bring greater diversity to healthcare workforces.
- Build strong labor/management, healthcare industry, and college partnerships to leverage public and private investment.
HEET Grant Application Process
Community and technical colleges apply for HEET grants and develop proposals for funding. In order to access HEET funding, colleges must collaborate with at least one healthcare employer and one labor partner – and this is where the Training Fund comes in!
The Training Fund has been collaborating with local colleges and union employers for over 10 years to train, educate and support our union members. HEET promotes education pathways that are designed for busy healthcare workers.
Past HEET Education Program Archives
Spokane Community College – Surgical Technician training to Meet Regional Workforce Demand
This HEET 13 program began in 2019 to help members in Eastern Washington earn Surgical Tech certificates with weekend and hybrid courses. The part-time program included a dedicated Training Fund tutor and a licensed active Surg Tech who provided additional academic and practice support to the cohort. It also included HEET grant funded childcare reimbursement and a dedicated college-success navigator partnered with Training Fund navigators to problem-solve and improve persistence. There are two final members graduating from the program in the fall of 2020.
Lake Washington Institute of Technology – Inclusive and Accessible Nursing Pathway through COVID-19 and beyond
This HEET 13 program supported the implementation of a part-time, Saturday Registered Nursing (Associates Degree in Nursing) program at Lake Washington Institute of Technology. The project included a strong support structure for participants including navigation, tutoring, childcare, increased online learning, virtual simulation training, and other student supports through college-based and Training Fund resources. This ADN program was possible thanks to a partnership between Lake Washington Institute of Technology, Kaiser Permanente of Washington, Swedish Medical Center, SEIU Healthcare 1199NW, and the SEIU Healthcare 1199W Multi-Employer Training Fund.
Accelerated Pathways for Internationally-Educated Professionals
This HEET 13 program was a new proposal in its first year. The goal of this project is to address healthcare workforce shortages and skill gaps while increasing diversity by improving healthcare pathways for internationally educated workers. The Puget Sound Welcome Back Center at Highline College in partnership with the Training Fund and union employers is developing an expedited system for career progression to help those trained internationally to earn their certifications. This program is made possible thanks to a partnership between Highline College, the Welcome Back Center, Kaiser Permanente of Washington, SEIU Healthcare 1199NW, and SEIU 1199NW Multi Employer Training Fund.
See what our programs do!
Green River College
Renton Technical College
HEET Support for Training Fund members
Members who participate in HEET programs may also be eligible for extra support from the Training Fund including tuition assistance, child care, transportation, money for books and supplies, and more!
Contact your Regional Education Navigator to learn more (each HEET program has an assigned Navigator – click the programs above to learn more).
Note: HEET funds are considered taxable income. You will need to submit a W9 to the Training Fund, and if you receive $600 or more from the Training Fund within in a given year, we will send you a tax form to use when submitting your annual taxes. Please work with a professional tax accountant if you have further questions.
Let us help you cover these HEET-related education expenses!
Childcare
Includes: time related to HEET coursework: studying, time in class, tutor hours, and/or HEET program clinicals.
Does not include: working hours at current employer.
Save copies of all childcare transactions so that you can provide documentation.
Transportation
Includes: trips for class, tutoring, labs, and/or clinicals.
Does not include: trips to/from current employer and workplace.
Save copies of all receipts.
Technology
Might include: purchase of a new laptop / tablet / Wi-Fi device (specifically for HEET project course use), printer, paper, classroom supplies (not otherwise covered by the Training Fund) and more!
Check with your Navigator before purchasing & save copies of all receipts.
How to Request HEET Support Services
- Connect with your Regional Education Navigator to verify eligibility.
- Submit a HEET funding request form.
- After your Request form and all documents have been received & reviewed, the Training Fund will send available funds within 30 days of request approval.
