12.05.02

Cantwell announces $3 million grant to train over 280 new health care workers

SEATTLE, WA - U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) today announced that a local consortium has been awarded a $3 million grant from the Department of Labor's H-1B Technical Skill Training Grant Program. The grant will be used to train 282 new health care workers in King, Snohomish, Pierce, Skagit, Whatcom, Island, and San Juan counties.

"Because of this grant, more people will get better health care services, and nearly 300 American workers will get second chance at a new career in the health care profession," Cantwell, an advocate for the grant, said.

At a press conference at Children's Hospital in Seattle, Cantwell was joined by Colin Conant, Executive Director, Pierce County Workforce Development Council; Jennifer Abermanis, Administrator, Children's Hospital; Susan Heath, Administrator and Nurse Executive, Children's Hospital; and Amber McAfee, a retrained health care worker.

Hospitals in Washington state are short thousands of health care workers. This grant will fund a new program to bring dislocated and underemployed workers into the health care profession. The program was developed by the Pierce County Workforce Development Council and includes 13 hospitals, 15 educational institutions, the Washington State Hospital Association and the Service Employees Industrial Union.

This grant helps address the health care needs of our region. Washington state has the lowest rate of RN's per capita in the nation. As of 2001, there were 912 nursing vacancies in the area to be served by the grant and the demand for RN's is expected to increase by one-quarter over the next few years. The grant will fund training for:

26 baccalaureate level registered nurses

94 associate degree registered nurses

62 radiology technologists

28 specialized imaging technologists

57 licensed practical nurses

15 bilingual licensed practical nurses

The Department of Labor's H-1B Technical Skill Training Grant Program is funded by the H-1B temporary visa program and is financed by a portion of a $1,000 fee, which is collected from those employers who seek H-1B visas for foreign workers.