Charter Oak State College has been awarded a significant CareerConneCT grant to educate CT residents disproportionately impacted by Covid in the high demand field of healthcare technology. The project, Building a Healthcare Information Management Pathway, partners the College with Hartford HealthCare, Girls for Technology, Capitol Workforce Partners and workforce boards across the state, to expand the healthcare technology workforce through free online courses focused on teaching the foundational skillsets in this growing field.
“We are thrilled to accept this CareerConneCT grant on behalf of the College and our partners. Educating Connecticut residents to advance or transition their careers is what we were created to do, and through this grant we will offer an accelerated and powerful online experience focused on changing lives and expanding the healthcare technology workforce,” said College President Ed Klonoski. “As a public online College in Connecticut, we are focused on building a better workforce to meet 21st Century needs. The awarding of this grant will directly propel our efforts to significantly and positively impact the healthcare technology workforce.”
Dr. Dave Ferreira, Provost, Charter Oak State College said, “Our program will be a collaborative effort between higher education, healthcare and Connecticut’s workforce boards to affect meaningful change for both residents and our healthcare systems. Healthcare technology is a critical need for 21st century healthcare systems, and we are prepared to increase those skillsets by offering a 21st century curriculum delivered in an online format.”
Nancy Taylor, Director of Workforce Development, said “The idea for this grant came straight from Hartford HealthCare who identified the pressing need for this workforce. More and more, employers are saying this type of critical skills training is essential to compete in the 21st century economy. What’s most significant about this partnership is that Charter Oak State College already has an educational pathway in place to move these entry-level employees up the career ladder.”
Upon completion of the program, successful graduates will be eligible for an interview with Hartford HealthCare. The courses are scheduled to begin late Spring 2023 and includes three, 8-week modules of online coursework. Students in the program will be supported with technology and a stipend to compensate them for any time they may need to take away from current employment. For more information or to inquire about enrolling in the program, please contact Nancy A. Taylor, Director of Workforce Development, nataylor@charteroak.edu