West Central Michigan Health Care Regional Skills Alliance
Revised 6/26/08
The West Central Michigan Health Care Regional Skills Alliance (RSA) was initiated in late 2004 as part of a statewide initiative by the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth. The Michigan Regional Skills Alliances (MiRSA) initiative was geared to support employers and economic development needs by developing solutions for workforce issues in high demand fields. With growing workforce needs in the health care field and shortages in many crucial occupations, health care is viewed as a natural sector offering job opportunities for displaced workers, unemployed individuals, new entrants into the workforce and incumbent health care workers wishing to advance their careers.
Background
Since the availability of qualified individuals directly affects the quality of health care throughout the region, the RSA invites participation from the broader community as well as organizations having a direct stake in the supply of qualified people in health care organizations. Through collaborative problem solving, the RSA seeks to resolve systemic and structural issues that will contribute to meeting the need for skilled and entry-level individuals in the health care sector. This will benefit not only health care organizations, but also the communities they serve throughout the region. Because core constituencies share the desire to assure the timely provision of health care workers, it is to everyone’s advantage to pool their resources and expertise to find solutions that will help all of them.
RSA Members
Any organization having a role in the health care workforce is encouraged to participate. This includes health care employers who create the demand for health care workers to the organizations that supply the qualified, competent and compassionate workers to meet this demand. The latter group includes educational institutions (secondary schools, post-secondary colleges and universities and other training programs), Michigan Works! Agencies and their community-based Workforce Development Boards and other agencies supplying health care workers.
The official conveners of the RSA initiative were the five area Michigan Works! Agencies (Central Area Michigan Works! Consortium, Kent/Allegan Michigan Works! Michigan Works! West Central, Muskegon/Oceana Consortium and Ottawa County Michigan Works!) and the Alliance for Health. However, health care employers and educational institutions were important original partners who were involved and supportive at the very beginning of the initiative.
The RSA operates under the auspices of the Alliance for Health Board of Directors. The RSA Board of Directors oversees RSA initiatives includes representatives from Michigan Works! Agencies, Workforce Development Boards, health care employers and educational institutions and. The RSA Board meets in the afternoon of the fourth Monday of odd-numbered months (Jan, Mar, May, Jul, Sep, Nov).
Wendy Ohst, Manager of the Department of Employment and Training, County of Muskegon chairs the RSA Board. Click to see RSA Board Members.
In response to employer recommendations, the RSA established the Health Care Employers Council in 2007 to serve as a means for employers to come together to discuss shared workforce needs and issues. The Council meets quarterly (Jan, Apr, Jul, Oct), with the Steering Committee meeting in between meetings. The following individuals serve on the Council’s Steering Committee:
o Lori Gibson, Spectrum Health Continuing Care
o Vicky Hilliard, Mercy Health Partners
o Tom Karel (Chairperson), Saint Mary’s Health Care
o Chuck Kohlruss, Holland Hospital
o Phil Weaver, Hope Network
o Floyd Wilson, Metro Health
Click to see Employers Council Members.
Progress and Current Strategy
During the first 18 months, the RSA initiative developed a strategic plan, identified key issues and began working on them. During this time period, a data base of information on the health care sector resources was collected. This included a survey on occupational needs, use of assessment in recruiting processes, “non-occupational” training needs and barriers in recruiting, training and retention of health care employees. This activity was supported with funding by the MiRSA initiative and the Michigan Works! Agencies, with in-kind support from the Alliance for Health.
A major leap forward came when the RSA was awarded funding through a West Michigan Strategic Alliance grant from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Education and Training Administration. The national Workforce Investment in Regional Economic Development (WIRED) funded 13 initiatives across the United States. In West Michigan, 12 different “Innovations” were funded “to support people, ideas and training necessary to attract and retain innovative employers and skilled jobs in our region.” Each year over the three-year funding cycle, each innovation had to meet certain thresholds showing progress and potential for being sustained once WIRED funded ends. The RSA is currently in its third and final year with WIRED support.
WIRED Phase III and Beyond
For current activities, click here to see a PowerPoint presentation that highlights current activities and where the project is headed.
If you are interested in more information on the RSA or the Employers Council, please e-mail craig.nobbelin@afh.org.
Links to Lists
of Post Secondary Health Occupation Programs Serving Residents of West Michigan
Introduction
List of Programs by School
List of Programs by Occupation
Links to Michigan Works!
Agencies
Central Area Michigan Works! Consortium
Kent/Allegan Michigan Works!
Michigan Works! West Central
Muskegon/Oceana Consortium
Ottawa County Michigan Works!
Links to Schools
Offering Education for Health Care Occupations
Post Secondary Education
(within or adjacent to West Central Michigan)
Aquinas College
Baker College (Cadillac)
Baker College (Muskegon)
Calvin College
Central Michigan University
Davenport University
Everest Institute
Ferris Sate University
Grand Rapids Community College
Grand Valley State University
Hope College
Kalamazoo Valley Community College
Lansing Community College
Mid-Michigan Community College
Montcalm Community College
Muskegon Community College
Ross Medical Education Centers
University of Detroit Mercy – West Michigan
University of Phoenix
Walker Medical Instructional Services
West Shore Community College
Western Michigan University
Intermediate School
Districts
Allegan County ISD: Allegan County Technical & Education Center
Ionia County ISD
Kent ISD – The Career Prep Connection
Kent ISD – Kent Career/Technical Center
Mason – Lake ISD
Mecosta – Osceola ISD
Montcalm Area ISD
Muskegon Area ISD
Muskegon Area ISD – Career Tech Center
Newaygo County Career-Tech Center
Oceana ISD
Ottawa Area ISD - Michigan Technical Education Center (M-TEC)
Links to Other Initiatives in Support of the West Central Michigan Health Care Regional Skills Alliance Mission
West Michigan Strategic Alliance
Michigan Healthcare Workforce Center website