Health Care

Workforce Updates

January 2024

Message from the Regional Consortium on Health Care Workforce

On December 8, 2023, the Regional Consortium on Health Care Workforce hosted leaders from New York State Department of Health to share insights about the Division of Workforce Transformation and the Office of Healthcare Workforce Innovation, funding updates and priority policies. Health workforce partners from the Finger Lakes region and across New York state had an opportunity to share and discuss current health workforce challenges and opportunities. You can find the meeting summary and Zoom recording on the Consortium website. 

On behalf of the Consortium, Common Ground Health and FLPPS submitted written testimony to the December 19 Joint Hearing of the Assembly Standing Committees on Health; Mental Health; People with Disabilities; Higher Education; and Labor regarding Health Care Workforce. Click here to read the testimony. 

We anticipate continued discussion with partners across the state, including New York State Department of Health, New York State Education Department, and our elected officials in the coming year. 

Happy New Year!

Explore resources on licensed professions from NYS Education Department

NYS Education Department Office of Professions has recently redesigned their website. Profession-specific information and career exploration resources are available for the licensed professions overseen by NYSED, including health care roles in nursing, dentistry, clinical laboratory technology, mental health, and more.

NYS OMH announces Community Mental Health Loan Repayment Program - Round 3

New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) has announced round 3 of the Community Mental Health Loan Repayment Program (CMHLRP), which will provide a minimum of 500 awards for additional titles working in eligible mental health programs.

For Licensed master social workers (LMSWs), licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs), licensed mental health counselors (LMHCs), licensed marriage and family therapists (LMFTs), licensed creative arts therapists (LCATs), licensed psychoanalysts,  licensed psychologists, the OMH CMHLRP provides up to $30,000 in loan repayment over a three-year period.

Applications will be reviewed and accepted until funds are exhausted. More information can be found here.

Funding application for Nurse Faculty Loan Program now open

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) released a new Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to increase the number of qualified nursing faculty nationwide.

The Nurse Faculty Loan Program (NFLP) provides funding to accredited schools of nursing to establish and operate a student loan fund and provide loans to students enrolled in advanced nursing degree programs who are committed to becoming nurse faculty. In exchange for completion of up to four years of post-graduation full-time nurse faculty employment in an accredited school of nursing, the program authorizes cancellation of up to 85% of the original student loan amount (plus interest thereon). The program also encourages Advance Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) to serve as full-time preceptors within an academic-practice partnership framework.  

HRSA will award approximately $26.5 million to up to 90 grantees over a period of one year.

Eligible applicants are domestic accredited schools of nursing with advanced education nursing programs. Click here to view the NOFO for a complete eligibility information.

The application deadline is 11:59 p.m. ET on February 5, 2024.

Action for a Better Community to host 2024 Signature Conference Series

Action for a Better Community will host its 2024 Signature Conference Series on January 11 and 18, with an in-person awards breakfast on January 25. The conference series marks the annual kickoff of ABC’s social justice work; this year's theme is Beyond Trauma... A Journey to Wellness.

Click here to register.

Greater Rochester Chamber launches new virtual DEI training series

In January, Clearpath HR Solutions will lead Building Bridges: The What, the Why, and the How of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. This training will be held over three modules on Wednesdays, January 17, 24 and 31 at 9 - 10:30 a.m. The series costs $350 for Chamber members and $500 for non-members.

Visit the Greater Rochester Chamber website to register.

Interdisciplinary Aging, Public Health and Palliative Care Certificate Program starts soon

This interdisciplinary workforce education and training certificate program provides generalist-level education in aging, public health and palliative care, including geriatrics, gerontology, social work, psychology, health policy and advocacy, and pastoral and spiritual care. The course aims to build knowledge and capacity for those working in the aging, health, and social services fields.

2024 Program Dates:
Weekend 1: Saturday January 20 and Sunday January 21
Weekend 2: Saturday February 17, Sunday February 18, & Monday February 19
Weekend 3: Saturday March 9 and Sunday March 10
Weekend 4: Saturday March 23 and Sunday March 24
Weekend 5: Saturday April 13 and Sunday April 14
Cost: $40/person (includes all five weekends)

Click here to learn more.

Registration is open for 2024 Older Adults and Opioids Webinar Series

The Finger Lakes Geriatric Education Center and the Western NY Rural Area Health Education Center are offering their 2024 Older Adults and Opioids Webinar Series. One continuing education credit per session is available for social work, physical therapy, occupational therapy and mental health practitioners. All sessions are free and will be held on Zoom from noon - 1 p.m. on the following dates:

• January 26 - A Public Health Approach to the Overdose Epidemic
• February 15 - Perceptions of Substance Use with Older Adults
• March 15 - Opioid Use Disorder in Older Adults 
• April 23 - Medical Marijuana and Older Adults 
• May TBD - Aging, the Opioid Epidemic, and Care Considerations for Native Communities 
• June 14 - Opioid Overdose Prevention - Narcan Training (with free Narcan kit) 

Click here to register.

Workforce Diversity Network announces 2024 schedule

Workforce Diversity Network (WDN) offers 11 monthly professional development and networking meetings, open to specialists and professionals in the fields of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and Human Resources - whether full-time staff, Employee Resource group members, organizational champions, or stakeholders from each member organization. Programs are held from 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. (8:15 am. check-in). All programs are hybrid; in-person attendance is strongly encouraged.

The 2024 member meeting schedule is now available.

Membership allows access to the full range of member benefits including free job postings on the WDN website. Corporate ($1,550.00) and Nonprofit memberships ($775.00) are available.

 Click here to learn more.

Health Equity Fellowship for Trainees provides mentorship for early career health equity researchers

Offered by the journal, Health Affairs, the Health Equity Fellowship for Trainees (HEFT) helps to increase the quantity and quality of manuscripts published on the topic of health equity, while cultivating future health equity research leaders. HEFT currently focuses on manuscripts focused on the topic of health equity along the dimensions of race and ethnicity.

As part of the program, HEFT fellows receive mentorship from experienced Health Affairs authors and editorial staff for 18-months as the fellows prepare manuscripts to be published in Health Affairs or another journal.

Applications for the 2024-2025 cohort are open until February 15, 2024.

Learn more about St. John Fisher University's Institute for Civic and Community Engagement 

SJFU's Institute for Civic and Community Engagement "provides leadership, expands the University’s community and civic engagement efforts, and establishes a platform for transformational and lasting change throughout our region." 

Scholarships are available through the Institute for Civic and Community Engagement, including the Fannie & Sam Constantino First-Generation Scholarship and the Service Scholars program.

The Center for Nonprofit Leadership offers board leadership seminars, nonprofit workshops and a Certificate in Nonprofit Management.

ColumbiaX offers free public health advocacy training

Billions of dollars in public health funding have been cut, crucial laws have been revoked, yet public health students aren’t always taught how to understand and create policy change. Learn public health advocacy strategies and tactics from seventeen engaging, expert speakers and over twenty real-life examples.

This free course is self-paced with 12 weeks of learning content. Click here to register.

Chamber trainings on supervision and leadership to be held in February

• Successful Supervision Training will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays, February 1, 6, 8, 13 and 15 at 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Uncover the essential tools and strategies for success, including role clarity, goal achievement, people development, decision making, successful delegation, effective communication, and talent selection and retention. 
• Leadership for Managers Training will be held on Fridays, February 2, 9, 16, 23, and March 1 at 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. This program presents the practical concepts, strategies, and skills needed to enhance a leader's performance, such as creating an environment of trust, integrating generational differences, interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence, and improving teamwork and motivation. 

Dates and topics announced for Spring 2024 virtual dementia education series for health care professionals

The Alzheimer's Association Chapters of New York State and the Finger Lakes Geriatric Education Center are again offering their virtual dementia education series for health care providers. Click the links in the session names below to register:

• February 8 at noon - Music Therapy & Dementia
• March 6 at noon - Behavioral Disturbances in Alzheimer’s Disease: Current Research & Treatment
• April 16 at noon - Intervening Early: Using Public Health to Ensure Dementia Early Detection & Diagnosis
• May 7 at noon - Family Dynamics in Alzheimer’s & Dementia

WNY R-AHEC offers social determinants of health training free for the rest January

WNY R-AHEC is offering a self-study course focused on social determinants of health. The course is available at no charge through the month of January thanks to grant funding. This course provides an introductory overview of the non-clinical factors in rural communities that impact health outcomes. This is an ideal course for anyone who is beginning to learn about the social determinants of health. There are continuing education credits available at no charge. Visit www.r-ahec.org under the Workforce tab to sign up for the course. If you have any questions, contact Jason Fulkerson, jfulkerson@r-ahec.org

Western New York Rural Area Health Education Center, Inc. (WNY R-AHEC) is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Boards for Social Work (#SW-0685), Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Mental Health Practitioners (#MHC-0268), and Speech Language Pathology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers, physical therapists and assistants, occupational therapists, and assistants, licensed mental health counselors, and speech language pathologists.

IHI to host online course to promote joy in work

Starting in March 2024, The Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) is hosting "Creating Workforce Joy and Well-Being," a 12-week program that will cover practical approaches to address burnout and promote overall well-being among healthcare professionals. The program will explore resilience building, effective team collaboration, work-life integration, and the importance of patient-centered care.

Click here to learn more about the course, including the training schedule and fees. A free informational call will be held on February 22 at 10 - 11 a.m.

Please share your health care workforce updates

If you have a training opportunity or workforce update you'd like us to share, you can send it to melissa.pennise@commongroundhealth.org, and we will add it to the next newsletter.

Please share this newsletter with others in your organization who might benefit and encourage them to sign up to receive it. 
https://www.commongroundhealth.org/newsletter-sign-up