On the last day of class, 13 graduates of the SSM Patient Care Tech (PCT) program were given exciting news: Each one of them was offered a full-time position with an area SSM Health hospital.
Among the new employees of DePaul Hospital is 26-year-old Jessica Kimble. She credits the training program with giving her the knowledge to gain a job in the medical field, develop confidence in her chosen path, and sparking interest in healthcare as a career.
Training and finding employment for jobseekers like Jessica is at the heart of the statewide healthcare training program, offered through the Health Profession Opportunity Grant (HPOG), which began last year through the St. Louis Agency on Training and Employment (SLATE) and other Missouri training providers.
HPOG participants are given the opportunity to obtain higher education, training, and support services needed to secure positions that have opportunity for advancement and sustainability. Through this unique program, participants can earn the certifications necessary for entry-level positions in nursing, pharmacy, emergency medicine, and other in-demand healthcare occupations.
Each year, 159 eligible applicants are selected by random lottery to participate in HPOG training, opening doors for 795 St. Louisans over the next five years. For those selected, SLATE provides funding for tuition, on-the-job training, books and supplies, as well as supportive services, including child care and transportation.
“There were people at every level to support me and my classmates to help us succeed. Any question, any concern…being patient with me, telling us everything we needed to know,” said Kimble. “It definitely took stress out of our minds and helped (us) find solutions… I would have never completed the program [without SLATE]. They were 90 percent of my success.”
In addition to supportive services, this program offers a flexible, short-term training schedule, consisting of eight to 12 weeks of classroom study, along with hands-on clinical practice at participating local hospitals. Graduates can gain employment almost immediately, or can choose to pursue higher certifications, including medical degrees.
The number of training programs and apprenticeships that offer immediate employment while teaching new skills “on-the-job” has seen dramatic growth in recent years. While many people think of construction-related trades – such as plumbing and carpentry – when they hear the word “apprenticeship”, SLATE has significantly expanded those options to include other high-demand industries such as IT, healthcare, manufacturing, transportation, bioscience and more.
In addition to the wealth of career options available, apprenticeship programs also provide individuals with livable-wage, entry-level employment and potential for career advancement.
“SLATE currently has 15 apprenticeship programs available to St. Louisans,” said Gino Austin, SLATE’s Apprenticeship Coordinator.
Charged with the task of growing SLATE’s House of Apprenticeships, Austin coordinates training programs for professions in Advanced Manufacturing and the Automotive industry (offered through Ranken Technical College) , Conventions/Events and Tourism (EXPLORE St. Louis), Cybersecurity (Midwest Cyber Center), Phlebotomy (Urban Labs Diagnostic Healthcare Solutions), Early Childhood Education (LUME Institute), IT (BLUE1647), Agri-Culinary (HOSCO SHIFT), and Pharmacy Technician jobs (CVS), among many others. These newer programs supplement SLATE’s existing Building Union Diversity (BUD) initiative, which positions apprentices to learn a variety of building and construction trades.
“Apprenticeships have always been seen as another word for ‘blue-collar’; but, this is definitely changing. Whatever the interests or abilities a jobseeker has, odds are we can help find an appropriate apprenticeship to match,” said Stacey Fowler, SLATE’s Manager of Innovation and Industry Engagement.
While any St. Louisan can apply for apprenticeships and training programs with SLATE, individuals from minority groups, including women, African-Americans, Latinos, as well as immigrant and non-English-speaking populations, are especially welcome. SLATE has many programs designed specifically to open economic opportunities for communities that have historically struggled with high rates of poverty, unemployment, and lack of access to training and supports.
Last spring, the St. Louis Career Pathway Bridge program established a network of neighborhood-based workforce development centers in underserved communities. The goal is to improve employment outcomes for thousands of youth and young adults up to age 30, including those who have been unemployed in the long-term and underemployed, living in St. Louis City and St. Louis County.
For Jessica Kimble, life after HPOG graduation gained a greater purpose. Although helping people has been her dream since she was a child, entering the medical field wasn’t easy for her. She praised the HPOG program, because it has enabled her to get back on track in pursuit of her dream.
Kimble has now set a new goal of earning her CNA certification, and is considering going back to school for a Bachelor’s Degree. She’s even considering using her knowledge and experience in healthcare to start her own business. “As long as you remain dedicated, committed, and are willing to sacrifice, you will succeed,” she said.
Availability of funding for training is subject to eligibility requirements and varies on case-by-case basis. Individuals interested in training and apprenticeship opportunities with SLATE are invited to call (314) 589-8000, or learn more at www.stlworks.com.
For apprenticeships, call SLATE
Availability of funding for training is subject to eligibility requirements and varies on case-by-case basis. Individuals interested in training and apprenticeship opportunities with SLATE are invited to call (314) 589-8000, or learn more at www.stlworks.com.
