Waubonsee Community College Healthcare Bridge Program

1. Waubonsee Community CollegeHealthcare Bridge Program Jackie Thoroughman Dean for Adult Education April 7, 2006

2. Purpose… Waubonsee Community College will provide the opportunity for ESL completers to prepare for healthcare occupations through successful completion of transition classes and occupational training as a nurse assistant or a healthcare interpreter.

3. Project Timeline… • Grant period begins – 10/05 • Design and obtain approval for courses and program – 11/04 • Recruit students – 12/04 • Hire staff – 12/04 • Class sequence begins – 1/05 • Classes end (first round) – 5/05 • Job search assistance – 6/05 • Grant ends – 6/05

4. Implementation… • Hire Staff: • Healthcare Bridge Grant Coordinator • F/T Temporary • Recruit students • Coordinate college departments • Coordinate classes • Provide case management services • Facilitate job search and placement process

5. Implementation (continued)… • Staff: • Healthcare Bridge Secretary • P/T Temporary • Prepare correspondence • Assist with recruitment and enrollment • Provide information about the program • Manage program paperwork (class lists, students folders, attendance forms, reports)

6. Implementation (continued)… • Design course sequence: • Vocational ESL (VESL) (English as a Second Language instruction in the context of vocational vocabulary training) • Basic Nurse Assistant (CNA), (12 week schedule) • Healthcare Interpreting (HCI), (12 week schedule)

7. Implementation (continued)… • Recruit students: • ESL completers • Class presentation • Fliers • Student applications

8. Implementation (continued)… • Provide student assessment: • CNA • DRP (untimed) • HCI • Spanish writing sample • Spanish reading comprehension • Nelson Denny (vocabulary and comprehension)

9. Implementation (continued)… • Offer classes: • VESL – 4 week, 1 credit class • CNA – 12 week, 7 credit hours, lecture and clinical • HCI – 12 week, 4 credit hours, lecture and lab

10. Implementation (continued)… • Provide student support: • Background checks • TB testing • Tutoring • Transportation and childcare reimbursement • Books, uniforms, supplies • Academic advising/case management • CNA certification exam (IDPH) • Student Health Fair

11. Implementation (continued)… • Facilitate student employment: • WCC Job Fair • Career counseling • Interviewing tips from local hospital recruiter • Communication with area employers

12. Collaborations… • Waubonsee Community College • Adult Education Department • Health and Life Science Department • Communication, Humanities and Fine Arts Department • Assessment Department • Kane County Health Department • Healthcare Facilities

13. Funding… • WIA Incentive Healthcare Grant ($68,500) • ICCB Adult Education Grants • Unrestricted WCC funds

14. Outcomes (for 1st and 2nd rounds)… • Applications – 29 and 24 • Background checks – 29 and 24 • TB testing – 13 • Assessment – 24 • Enrolled – • VESL - 26 and 22 • CNA – 8 and 12 • HCI – 9

15. Outcomes (continued)… PlanActual% • Enrollment 20 38 190 • Completion 20 22 110 • Employed 17 85 • Cont. Educ. 5 22

16. Challenges… • Programmatic issues: • Lack of time for planning and implementation • Lack of time for marketing and student recruitment • Need more time to develop a learning community • Lack of continuity after completion of program

17. Challenges (continued)… • Funding issues: • Tuition • Student support services • Textbooks and supplies • Student issues: • Attendance • ESL completers lack the language skills necessary for HCI

18. Successes… • Benefits of having staff specifically for the program • Benefits of student advising • Collaboration • Development of the VESL course • Success rate for program completion

19. Next Steps… • VESL • Adult Education/Transition Advisor

20. Contact Information… Jackie Thoroughman Dean for Adult Education Waubonsee Community College 630 906-4110 jthoroughman@waubonsee.edu