Session Description: As healthcare workforce shortages continue to challenge community health centers, strategic partnerships are essential to building sustainable talent pipelines. This session will highlight the Capital Area Healthcare Career Center, a groundbreaking collaboration between CCI Health Services and Employ Prince George’s that integrates workforce development services directly within the walls of a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC).
This innovative model positions health centers as the Partner of Choice by fostering workforce pipelines that connect community members to career pathways in healthcare—from entry-level roles to advanced clinical positions. By embedding job training, professional development, and apprenticeship opportunities within a functioning health center, this approach creates direct employment pathways, enhances workforce diversity, and strengthens the local healthcare system.
Attendees will gain insights into:
Co-locating workforce development services within an FQHC to expand access to training and career opportunities. Building strategic partnerships with workforce agencies, educational institutions, and employers to address healthcare labor shortages. Creating scalable workforce solutions that increase retention and long-term career growth for health center employees. This session will provide practical strategies for other health centers looking to establish similar partnerships, ensuring they remain the go-to destination for both high-quality care and career advancement in healthcare.
Learning Objectives:
Describe how embedding workforce development programs within Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) can enhance recruitment, retention, and workforce diversity to address healthcare labor shortages.
Analyze the key components of the model, including job training, apprenticeships, and career navigation, to determine how similar strategies can be applied in other health centers.
Develop an actionable plan to build or strengthen workforce development partnerships by identifying key stakeholders, funding opportunities, and implementation strategies tailored to their organization’s needs.
