Bridges to Success

  Grant Amount: $85,000

Grant Year: 2006

Service Region: West Michigan - Kent County

Convener: The Delta Strategy

Primary Partners: Employers (16), Educational (2), MWA (1), Economic Development (1), Other (5)

Industry Focus: Healthcare

Occupational Focus: Transitioning Manufacturing Employees to Healthcare Careers

Summary: Partnering with WIRED West Michigan, the MiRSA will pilot a model to transition displaced workers from manufacturing, a shrinking industry in the area, into healthcare - a growth industry in the area.  If successful, the effort will be expanded to include more manufacturers and healthcare employers.

Michigan Direct Care Worker Readiness Training Program

Grant Amount: $50,000

Grant Year: 2005

Service Region: Statewide

Convener: Michigan Direct Care Workforce Initiative

Primary Partners:Employers (8), Educational (3), Unions/Trade Associations (9), MWA (2), Faith/Community Based (1), Economic Development (0), Other (16)

Industry Focus:  Healthcare

Occupational Focus: Long-Term Care, Certified Nurse Aides, Home Health Aides, and Personal Home Care Aides

Summary: The Michigan Direct Care Workforce Readiness Training Program is focused on increasing retention of the direct care workforce by initially recruiting strong candidates into the field.  This process would include matching skill and aptitude with occupational expectations based upon standards as presented by industry employers and current industry employees.

The Michigan Direct Care Worker Readiness Training Program was designated as a MiRSA just prior to the end of FY 2005.

Southwest Michigan Regional Health Care Skills Alliance

Grant Amount: $88,000

Grant Year: 2004

Service Region: Barry, Berrien, Branch, Calhoun, Cass, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph, and Van Buren Counties

Co-Conveners: Calhoun Intermediate School District, Kalamazoo-St. Joseph Michigan Works!, and Michigan Works! Berrien-Cass-Van Buren

Primary Partners: Employers (10), Educational (4), Unions/Trade Associations (1), MWA (3), Faith/Community Based (2), Other (3)

Industry Focus:  Health Care

Occupational Focus: Nurses Aides and other entry-level workers

Summary: The MiRSA seeks to promote the economic health and welfare of local health care employers and their workers.  The MiRSA will convene health care summits throughout the region to share best practices, assist in strategies to strengthen retention and enhance recruitment and assist in marketing the range of direct patient care and allied health care occupations to youth, dislocated workers, and users of employment service center.  Additional activities include working toward offering career ladders and other strategies to low income workers that will lead to self-sufficiency and make health care an even greater "selling point" for economic development in the region.