September 2026 Work Force Newsletter

Health Care

Workforce Updates

September 2026

Spread the Word: Become a CASAC with Training and Tuition Support

Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselors (CASACs) play a vital role in New York's health, behavioral health, and social care workforce. Many professionals enter the field as a second career, bringing valuable life and work experience to their roles. In fact, the average student enrolled in the Training Addiction and Recovery Professionals (TARP) program is 40 years old.

The Career Pathways Training (CPT) Program can help eligible individuals pursue a CASAC credential by covering tuition and providing educational support while enrolled in training. Upcoming online TARP cohorts begin September 15 and October 5, 2026, making it easier for working adults to pursue this career path. We encourage you to share this opportunity with colleagues, community partners, and others in your network who may be interested in becoming a CASAC.

Learn more about the CASAC role and CPT Program eligibility.

New Opportunity for Nurses: Student Loan Repayment Available

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is launching a new program that will provide up to $40,000 in student loan repayment and up to $10,000 in incentive stipends for eligible RNs and LPNs/LVNs who commit to working in qualifying nursing homes, particularly in rural and underserved communities. Participants must maintain an active nursing license and commit to working at least 30 hours per week for three years. Applications are expected to open soon.

Learn more and sign up for updates through CMS.

Become a Qualified Service Commitment Site: Keep the Talent You Have, Access the Talent You Need

Your organization may already employ a Career Pathways Training (CPT) Program participant and not know it. After participants complete their education and training in one of 13 high-demand job roles, they must fulfill a required, three-year service commitment with a Qualified Service Commitment Site. If their current employer is not a Qualified Service Commitment Site, they may need to seek employment elsewhere to meet that requirement.

Even if you don't currently employ a CPT participant, becoming a Qualified Service Commitment Site with the CPT Program gives your organization access to a growing pipeline of health, behavioral health, and social care professionals seeking eligible employers where they can fulfill their service commitment requirements.

Learn more about becoming a Qualified Service Commitment Site.

Advocacy vs. Lobbying in New York: What Public Health Professionals Need to Know, Tuesday, September 15, 12-1:00 p.m. ET

Public health professionals regularly advocate for the communities they serve, but when does advocacy become lobbying? This webinar will help participants understand New York's lobbying laws, registration requirements, reporting obligations, and considerations for nonprofit organizations. Attendees will learn how to identify when advocacy activities cross into regulated lobbying and what steps are required to remain compliant.

Learning Outcomes:

• Understand the difference between advocacy and lobbying.
• Learn when lobbying registration and reporting requirements apply in New York.
• Identify compliance obligations for organizations and individuals.
• Explore lobbying considerations specific to nonprofit organizations.

CE Credit: Participants are eligible to receive 1 CHES or CPH continuing education credit.

Register.

Dental Therapy in Community Health Centers: What Your Team Needs to Know, September 15, 2-3:00 p.m.

Hosted by Community Catalyst, a founding member of the New York Partnership for Dental Therapy, the session is designed for health center leaders, dental directors, dentists, dental hygienists, and clinical and administrative staff. Participants will learn about dental therapist education and licensure, supervision requirements, integration into care teams, career pathways, and the operational and financial impact of adding dental therapists to the workforce.

The webinar will feature practicing dental therapists and a community health center oral health leader who will share real-world implementation experiences. Free continuing education credits are available to attendees through support from the Arcora Foundation.

Date: September 15
Time: 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. ET
Cost: Free
Registration: Register online through Community Catalyst.

Register.

Lifespan Online Program with Continuing Education Credits, September 16, 2026-May 26, 2027

Explore the opportunities and challenges of our growing older adult population through this engaging online program. Whether you're looking to advance your career, expand your knowledge, or pursue personal enrichment, this series welcomes learners of all ages. Continuing Education credits are available.

Classes meet weekly online from September 16 through May 26. Registration is open now, and payment is not required at the time of registration. After registering, participants will be contacted directly with payment instructions.

Click here to go straight to registration!

2026 Regional Resilience Symposium: Building Stronger Workforces and Communities, September 23, 2026

The 2026 Regional Resilience Symposium taking place on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, at Hotel Canandaigua is hosted by Pro Action of Steuben and Yates, Inc., The Institute for Human Services (IHS), and Catholic Charities of Steuben/Livingston. The event will focus on workforce well-being, organizational resilience, and sustainable leadership practices.

This year's keynote speaker, Françoise Mathieu, is an internationally recognized expert in compassion fatigue, burnout prevention, secondary traumatic stress, and workplace wellness. A registered psychotherapist, educator, TEDx speaker, and Executive Director of TEND, Mathieu brings more than 25 years of experience helping organizations create healthier, more resilient workplace cultures.

The symposium will bring together professionals from healthcare, education, human services, Community Action Agencies, nonprofits, and related sectors to explore practical, evidence-based approaches to supporting employees and strengthening organizational health.

Registration required.

NYATEP Fall Conference 2026: Strength in the Face of Change, October 5-7, 2026

Registration is now open for the NYATEP Fall Conference, taking place October 5-7, 2026, in Albany, NY. This year's theme, Strength in the Face of Change: Building a More Responsive, Skilled, and Resilient Workforce System, will bring together workforce development professionals, policymakers, educators, and partners to explore emerging workforce trends and solutions.

Conference sessions will address topics including AI's impact on jobs and workforce programs, employer engagement strategies, federal and state workforce policies, serving priority populations, higher education partnerships, and professional development. Confirmed speakers include Dana Politis, Deputy Commissioner of the New York State Department of Labor, and Chris White, Vice Chancellor for Workforce Development and Upward Mobility at SUNY.

Register Now!

AHEC Webinar: Interprofessional Collaboration in Diabetes Prevention, April 23, 2027, 12-1:00 p.m. ET

Join the final webinar in the AHEC Building Better Health Series on April 23 from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. This session, Interprofessional Collaboration's Role in Diabetes Prevention, will explore how healthcare providers and community partners can work together to improve diabetes prevention and care.

Continuing education credits are available for Social Workers, Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapists, and Licensed Mental Health Counselors. Mark your calendars and watch this space for a registration link.

For additional information, contact Jason Fulkerson at jfulkerson@r-ahec.org.

WNY R-AHEC Opens Enrollment for 2026-2027 AHEC Scholars Program

The Western New York Rural Area Health Education Center (WNY R-AHEC) is now accepting applications for the 2026-2027 AHEC Scholars Program and encourages educators, program directors, and workforce partners to share this opportunity with eligible students.

The AHEC Scholars Program is a two-year, HRSA-funded program for students enrolled in health-related degree programs who are entering the final two years of their training. Participants can earn up to $1,000 annually in stipends for completing program requirements, with a total of up to $2,000 over the two-year program.

Through a combination of online learning and hands-on experiences in rural and underserved communities, students gain valuable knowledge in areas such as social determinants of health, cultural competency, mental health, primary care integration, and interprofessional practice. Clinical placements may help satisfy experiential learning requirements.

Learn more.

Free CME Opportunity: Evidence-Based Pain Management Training

Healthcare professionals can enhance their pain management skills through a free, online, self-paced training offered by the Pri-Med Institute in partnership with the National AHEC Organization's Training Center. This 4-hour. self-paced, free online course provides evidence-based strategies for recognizing and classifying pain, exploring non-opioid and pharmacologic treatment options, reducing risk, and delivering individualized patient care. Participants can also earn CME credit at no cost.

When registering, please indicate Western New York Rural AHEC as the organization that referred you to the training.

Register. 

The 2025-2026 State of Well-Being Report from the Well-Being Index

The report draws on more than 72,000 healthcare worker assessments and examines trends in burnout, distress, work-life integration, and professional fulfillment across healthcare occupations. It reports that nearly half of healthcare workers surveyed experienced burnout in 2025 and provides workforce-specific data to help organizations develop targeted retention and well-being strategies. 

Read the report.

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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