SER’s Healthcare Careers Pathway Programs involve two main components:

1. Helping lower-skilled, lower-income adults gain access to training that leads to a viable career in healthcare
2. Helping local healthcare employers find quality staff

SER’s Healthcare Bridge is the cornerstone of our program and, in partnership with Daley College and the Arturo Velasquez Institute, the Bridge has helped nearly 150 individuals successfully complete a contextualized literacy and numeracy program so that they may gain admission into a healthcare-focused occupational training program at Chicago City Colleges and ultimately find employment at a healthcare facility.

The contextualized literacy education and career training model is an integrated, tiered system with multiple entry points and multiple points of exit, depending on the student’s needs and goals. Career pathways include Nursing and Radiology Technician; Nursing Assistant and Personal Care Technician serve as entry opportunities.

SER also works with Rush Medical University Center to recruit, screen and refer candidates for open positions at the hospital.

Why are the Healthcare Careers Pathway Programs Important?
Workforce development programs are most successful when they are aligned with regional economic trends.  SER designed the Healthcare Bridge program to both serve the needs of local employers, as well as help community residents gain access to career pathways in the field.  Without the Bridge, these residents would lack the basic math and reading skills needed to access even entry-level occupational training at the college level.

Our program truly bridges a gap, serving both employer and worker needs.

Results:SER’s Healthcare Bridge program has been very successful, with 90 percent completion rates for the Healthcare Bridge and 85 percent or higher completion rates for the Certified Nursing Assistant training program.  Of the 100 individuals who have attained a C.N.A. or Medical Billing & Coding certification, nearly 70 have already attained employment. Others have decided to continue their education full-time.

Funders: Chicago Department of Family & Support Services, Chicago Department of Community Development, The Partnership for New Communities’ Opportunity Chicago

For Our Potential Customers:

Eligibility: For the Healthcare Bridge, candidates must be below a 9th grade level in math or reading and be either a CHA resident with a FamilyWorks provider or be a WIA-eligible low-income adult.  For the Rush Healthcare Advancement project, candidates must be a City of Chicago resident

Suitability: All customers referred to SER’s Healthcare Programs should demonstrate a strong desire to be employed in the healthcare field

Orientation Information: For information on orientations for the Healthcare Bridge, contact Lorne Green. For more information on available jobs at Rush, email HiringForHealthcare@CentralStatesSER.org

For more information about the program please contact:

Healthcare Bridge: Lorne Green, Healthcare Program Manager, 773.542.9030, ext. 1283; lgreen@centralstatesser.org

Healthcare Employment and Outreach: Elizabeth Masching, Project Coordinator, Healthcare Employment & Outreach, 773.542.9030, ext. 1224; EMasching@CentralStatesSER.org

Useful Link: For more information about Opportunity  Chicago: http://www.opportunitychicago.org/