Governor Rell: State Seeking $5 Million in Stimulus

To Increase Nursing, Health Care Jobs

Funds to provide more scholarships, recruitment and training

            Governor M. Jodi Rell announced today that the state has applied for nearly $5 million in federal stimulus funds to build the ranks of nurses and other health care careers in Connecticut by providing more scholarships, affordable education and retraining opportunities to residents who are unemployed or working in low-income jobs.

            “The shortage of qualified nurses and other health care professionals is a matter of great concern in Connecticut, especially as our population ages,” the Governor said. “These funds will allow us to enhance our ongoing efforts to increase those numbers by placing more nursing students in community colleges, retraining unemployed or underemployed workers and, quite simply, helping to make a career in health care a reality for those seeking to get ahead in life.”

            Connecticut’s Workforce Investment Strategies in Healthcare (WISH), a comprehensive initiative that works in partnership with community colleges and local work force boards, will use the stimulus money to remove barriers that limit educational and employment opportunities. It includes providing more than $900,000 in scholarship and financial support to new students entering the field and to current health care workers who seek to expand their skills.

            WISH would also create a system of healthcare advisors and case managers to introduce potential students to career opportunities and assist those already pursuing the profession. The initiative would target entry and mid-level health care workers.

            Mary Ann Hanley, the Governor’s work force policy advisor, says the 3-year stimulus grant would help WISH place more than 3,200 students in 11 community college degree programs such as nursing, emergency medical technician, paramedic, surgical technician and diagnostic sonography. Additionally, it would find jobs for 2,500 new health care workers and provide expanded retraining opportunities to more than 600 workers.

            For more information on the WISH application and other stimulus programs in the state visit www.ct.gov and click on the CT Recovery link.