May 2025 Work Force Newsletter

Health Care

Workforce Updates

May 2025

FLPPS Accepting Applications for Career Pathways Training Program

The Career Pathways Training (CPT) Program provides an opportunity to launch or advance careers in health, behavioral health, and social care. Individuals who meet eligibility requirements can pursue one of 13 eligible job titles and must complete their education and training by spring 2027. Additionally, they commit to a three-year, full-time service term—beginning after they complete their education—at a NYS Medicaid-enrolled provider that services at least 30% Medicaid and/or uninsured individuals.

Finger Lakes Performing Provider System (FLPPS) is now accepting applications for those living in Western New York, the Finger Lakes region, and part of the Southern Tier. This program is open only to new students. Learn more.

Lean Six Sigma Certification Programs Offered at RIT
Lean Six Sigma is a problem-solving process that helps streamline productivity and efficiency. Three certification courses are being offered at RIT - Yellow, Green, and Black Belt certification More information is available for information about these programs: Yellow Belt, Green Belt, and Black Belt.

Powerful Tools for Caregivers – via Zoom, May 23 to June 27, 10:30 a.m. to noon
Lifespan’s free, six-week program is for people caring for a friend or family member who is living with any chronic illness. It focuses on the needs of family caregivers of individuals with chronic conditions. Family caregivers develop a variety of self-care tools to reduce personal stress, change negative self-talk, communicate their needs to family members and healthcare providers, and communicate more effectively in challenging situations. Classes will meet May 23, 30, and June 6, 13, 20, 27. Register here.

Youth Mental Health First Aid Training – East High School, May 24, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
This training will help you learn how to recognize and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges in youth. Trainers include Norman Simmons and Charles Rucker. It is sponsored by Changing Minds Initiative by National Council for Mental Wellbeing. Register by calling 585.498.9851 or by sending an email to Foundationns89@gmail.com.

From Friction to Flow: Mastering Group Dynamics – webinar, May 28 from noon to 1 p.m.
This free, interactive session will explore how groups form and function to help reduce friction and cultivate cohesion in the service of generating high-quality results. Topics include the visible and invisible group dynamics that drive success or derail progress and simple practices to elevate a team’s cohesion, clarity and performance. This webinar is put on by the Greater Rochester Quality Council, a Chamber of Commerce affiliate. Register here.

MCC Certified Nurse Assistant Training and Development Program, June 4 to June 27, 8:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.
CNA Training and Development classes are ongoing, but they are not available for direct registration. All individuals must first register and attend the Basic Certified Nurse Assistant Training Program Workshop to learn more about program details, class expectations, dates and times. For more information, contact Health Care Programs at HealthCarePrograms@monroecc.edu or call 585-685-6287.

Population Health Innovation Summit – June 5
New York State Technology Enterprise Corporation's eighth annual Population Health Innovation Summit will be held on June 5 at the Albany Capital Center. Topics to include the environment, climate resilience and population health include. Speakers include:
•    Gabriella M. Cebada Mora, division director, Environmental Stewardship and Planning, NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation 
•    Neil Muscatiello, PhD, director, Bureau of Environmental and Occupational Epidemiology, NYSDOH 
•    Matthew Nystoriak, PhD, associate professor, Masonic Medical Research Institute 
•    Augusta Williams, ScD, MPH, assistant professor, SUNY Upstate Medical University 
Register here.

Review Class for Certified Professional in Human Factors in Health Care Exam – webinar, June 11 and 12, noon to 4 p.m.The Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) offers this review course to experienced human factors professionals who plan to take the Certified Professional in Human Factors in Health Care (CPHFH) examination. The CPHFH Review Course can help participants prepare for the CPHFH exam by reviewing domain content areas and test-taking strategies. Learn more.

Mental Health Program Trainings – ongoing
Western NY Rural AHEC offers Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) and Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) Gatekeeper suicide prevention programs. MHFA is a 5- to 8-hour virtual, in-person or blended (hybrid) training that teaches participants how to identify, understand and respond to signs and symptoms of mental health challenges and substance-use disorders. QPR teaches the signs of someone who might be suicidal, how to persuade and refer them to get professional help. For more information, contact Liesi Schoonraad at tschoonraad@r-ahec.org.

Current Approaches to Rural Health Workforce Challenges Need Improvement. Gaetano Forte, MS, Assistant Director, Center for Health Workforce Studies, University at Albany, SUNY, spotlights programs in New York helping to recruit rural health care workers. He offers suggestions to strengthen existing successful programs and make changes to rural healthcare workforce policy.

Please share your health care workforce updates

If you have workforce updates to share, or any feedback or ideas for this newsletter, please contact Melissa Wendland at melissa.wendland@commongroundhealth.org.

Please share this newsletter with others in your organization who might benefit and encourage them to sign up to receive it. 
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