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Enhancing Healthcare Workforce Diversity: Suburban Maryland's Welcome Back Center

Learn about the role of the Welcome Back Center in integrating internationally-trained health professionals in Maryland to address healthcare workforce shortages, providing licensure support and job opportunities. This evidenced-based model offers guidance, academic support, workforce development, and leadership programs to enhance workforce diversity and improve public health outcomes.

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Enhancing Healthcare Workforce Diversity: Suburban Maryland's Welcome Back Center

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  1. Pathways to Licensure and Integration of Internationally-Trained Health Professionals:The Role of the Welcome Back Center of Suburban MarylandSonia E. Mora, MPH, AdministratorSuburban Maryland Welcome Back Center Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services

  2. The following factors converge to increase the demand for health services impacting the industry’s ability to meet the needs of Maryland residents: Aging population and workforce of health professionals Lack of capacity of educational institutions Influx of cultural and language diversity Background

  3. Background Despite the fact that many immigrants in Maryland are highly educated, well experienced health professionals, many of them are currently under-employed and are not utilizing their skilled-training and full intellectual potential. Greater workforce diversity may lead to improved public health.

  4. Challenges faced by Internationally-Trained Health Professionals Limited English proficiency Unfamiliarity with licensure process Economic difficulties Lack of time to study and work at the same time Lack of confidence in personal ability Unfamiliarity with US health care system Source: “Status of Licensure of Foreign-Trained Latino Nursing Professionals in the State of Maryland.” Latino Health Professions Workgroup. Latino Health Initiative, Montgomery County DHHS. Nov. 2004.

  5. Welcome Back Center ofSuburban Maryland An evidenced-based model that includes key elements of successful programs across the country. Seeks to diversify the health workforce and address nursing and other shortages. Provides services to facilitate the Maryland licensure process for internationally-trained health professionals.

  6. Model Components Guidance and Support: Individualized case management to obtain licensure and secure employment in the health field in Maryland Social support and access to financial assistance Academic Support: English as a Second Language (ESL) for healthcare professionals courses Refresher courses Board exam preparation courses

  7. Model Components (Cont.) • Workforce Development - On-the-Job Practical Exposure to the US Healthcare System and Mentoring (at local hospitals) - Employment opportunities in health care facilities * - Job readiness (e.g. resume writing, interview prep) - Skills development • Leadership Development* * In developmental stages

  8. Funders Current • Annie E. Casey Foundation • Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services • Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulations • National Kaiser Foundation (Community Health Initiatives Grants Program) Former • Healthcare Initiative Foundation • Maryland Hospital Association

  9. Partners and Supporters Government: Montgomery County Department of Economic Development Montgomery Works One-Stop Workforce Center Academic Sector: Montgomery College Private Sector: Holy Cross Hospital Washington Adventist Hospital Shady Grove Adventist Hospital Prince George’s County Economic Development Corporation

  10. Intensive Services to Internationally-Trained Health Professional • Program with 129 nurses (2006 - present) • Pilot with 10 behavioral health professionals (started August 2012) • Pilot with 20 physicians (started October 2012)

  11. Demographics on Nurses

  12. Demographics on Nurses

  13. Demographics on Nurses

  14. Demographics on Nurses Strong Academic Credentials – Close to 50% of the participants have more than 4 years of nursing training equivalent to a Bachelors’ degree or above.

  15. Demographics on Nurses Valuable Nursing Work Experience – Close to 60% of the participants have more than 6 years of nursing work experience abroad.

  16. Selected Outcomes: March 2006 - March 2013(n= 129 nurses)

  17. Achievements • The prestigiousMigration Policy Institute E Pluribus UnumPrizes for exceptional immigrant integration initiatives. 2011 • Governor O’Malley’s Maryland Council for New Americans Best Practice Model. 2009. • Received NACo (National Associations of Counties) Achievement Award and designated “Best of Category” 2008 • Workforce Leadership Award Montgomery County Dept of Economic Development 2008.

  18. WBC Contributions • It is cost-effective • Builds on the assets of internationally-trained health professionals • Addresses workforce shortages • Increases economic self-sufficiency • Supports integration of highly skilled immigrants into the health field. • Improves health outcomes through the delivery of culturally and linguistically appropriate health services.

  19. http://www.lhiinfo.org/en-programs-and-activities/Welcome-Back-Center.asphttp://www.lhiinfo.org/en-programs-and-activities/Welcome-Back-Center.asp

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