VIDAIsidro Ramos

Funding SourcesHistory about VIDA

VIDA, a 501 c 3 community organization, was created in 1996 by Valley Interfaith, a grassroots organization committed to responding to the needs of the community through a grassroots initiative.

Originally funded as a two year demonstration project today VIDA continues to provide it’s services through training grants from the federal, state and local level. Moreover, VIDA has been able to secure local investment from valley cities: Edinburg, Harlingen McAllen, Mercedes, Mission, Port Isabel, San Juan and Weslaco.

VIDA’s Mission is

To increase the education levels of the Rio Grande Valley by providing assistance for higher education training that targetes demand occupations in the region that start at $8.50 or more.

VIDA’s training model, which is based on the concept of human capital investment, has allowed VIDA to increase the average wage of entering participants of $7,296.24 per year before entering the VIDA program to $29,503.36 per year average wages after graduating and entering employment, with a retention rate of 89%.

VIDA’s Umbrella of Services:

Weekly intensive Case Management and Career GuidanceTuition, Books, Fees, Gas Allowance, Child care, Equipment, Tools etc.GED, THEA Academies, 1yr.Certificate and 2yr. Associates Degree

VIDA’s partners include:

Local Workforce Boards, Tech Prep, Region One, South Texas College, Texas State Technical College, International Technology and Education Center (ITEC), University of Texas Brownsville-Texas Southmost College, University of Texas Pan American, Local Economic Development Corporations and Chambers.

Alliance Members

Edinburg Regional Medical Center

McAllen Medical Center

Valley InterfaithMember Southwest IAF Network

Dolly VinsantDolly Vinsant

Memorial HospitalMemorial Hospital

BACKGROUNDThe Rio Grande Valley Allied Health Training Alliance was organized to 1) identify two training needs in Allied Health in the Rio Grande Valley and 2) develop a strategic plan to meet employer’s workforce needs.

The goal of the Alliance is simply to enable area hospitals to meet their need for nurses and allied health practitioners with local residents.

AHTA winner of TWC 2004 Transitional Workforce Award

U.S. Senator John Cornyn and Congressmen Ruben Hinojosa and Solomon Ortiz on hand to announce DOL $4 million grant

AHTA receives $313,000 grant from WorkFORCE Solutions

Rio Grande Valley Allied Health Training Alliance officially formed

Group of Valley business leaders travel to Germany and Ireland to research apprenticeship concept

DOL H1-B grant approved. VIDA and UTB/TSC begin work on allied health feasibility

Houston Endowment grants $200,000 to VIDA to address allied health shortage

City of McAllen grants $350,000 over two years to VIDA to develop plan to address allied health shortage

Hospital CEO’s, Workforce board directors and college deans meet to discuss the region’s strategy for ‘Growing Our Own’

TWC grants $350,607 to AHTA

AHTA begins looking into the development of career pathways and adoption of K through Life education/ training continuum

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

Hospitals find themselves recruiting from outside the state and as far away as Canada and the Philippines for qualified nurses and allied health practitioners

Texas Nursing Foundation, if states were ranked by the number of Registered Nurses per 100,000 population, Texas would rank among the bottom 10 percent or 45 out of 50. What is perhaps more striking is that the need for nurses along the border with Mexico is greater than the rest of the state

The issue of a shortage of trained nurses has gotten the attention of the area CEO's because this has caused them to close beds in our hospitals. Closing beds means a reduction in income.

The CEO's have also found it to be in their best interest to work together to attempt to help resolve this problem because united they have a larger voice and can influence change.

RGV ALLIANCE TARGET OCCUPATIONS (Feasibility Study Results)

Traditional Health Occupations Career Programs

Career Education Support Ladder Model Programs

Licensed Vocational Nursing

Registered Nursing

CERT Vocational Nursing

AAS -LVN-RN Transition

AAS-Associate Degree Nursing (ADN)

BS-Bachelor in Nursing (BSN)

Nursing Specialty CertificationCritical Core/Intensive CarePerioperative NursingEmergency NursingObstetrical Nursing (Labor/Delivery)Neonatal Intensive Care

Radiologic TechnicianCT TECHNICIANMRI TECHNICIAN

AAS-Radiologic Technology Imaging Services:Computerized TomographyMagnetic Resonance ImagingMammography

SONOGRAPHER AAS SONOGRAPHY

NUCLEAR TECHNICIAN AAS NUCLEAR MEDICINE TEHNOLOGY *

SURGICAL TECHNICIAN CERT/AAS SURGICAL TECHNOLOGY First Assistant (OR)

PHARMACY TECHNICIAN CERT/AAS PHARMACY TECHNOLOGY

MEDICAL LAB TECHNICIAN AAS MEDICAL LAB TECHNOLOGY

BS CLINICAL LAB SCIENCE

RESPIRATORY THERAPIST AAS RESPIRATORY THERAPY

EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIANS CERT/AAS EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN (BASIC INTERMEDIATE PARAMEDICS)

Advanced certification in trauma (ACLS, PALS, ATLS)

EMS Instructor Certification

BIO MEDICAL EQUIPMENT TECHNICIAN BS/MS BIOMEDICAL TEHNOLOGY

The “Career Education Ladder” is an existing structure that allows students/workers to progress from beginning to higher levels within their professions.

C.N.A.

Vocational Nurse

Registered Nurse

Certified RN Specialist

M.S.N.

Colleges/Universities

With the critical shortage of healthcare workers today, we need more people on the career education ladder.

We cannot afford to lose capable worker/students.

Traditionally students/workers have tried to climb the Career Education Ladder on their own.

Some make it by balancing work, school and family.

Others are less fortunate .

Flow Chart

Issueresolved?

Sponsorship?*Referred to appropriate college for acceptance (South Texas College)

Completeremedial

work?

Accepted?Referral to One-Stop Center for job search assistance

Start program

Attend weekly case management sessions with VIDA staff *

Remediation at college continuing education *(Workforce Academy)

Develop action plan for coping with barrier and facilitate resolution

CONTINUE ON FOLLOWING PAGE

Continue in program

YES YES

YES

YES

NO

NO

NO

NO

YES

Interest inLong-term training?

VIDA for Assessment & Individual Service Plan

Referral to Employer for Customized Training

Community OutreachChurches, Employers, High Schools & One-Stop Centers

Referral to One-Stop Center for job search assistance

Accepted toSJE&JTP?

YES

NO

NO

YES

NO

Potential barrier

identified?

PassedExam?

State Exam**

HIGHLY SKILLED, LOCALLY TRAINED

PROFESSIONAL

Specialty Training*

YES

NO

Successful Completion?

COMPLETION OF COURSEWORK

Clinical Rotation*

Work with college faculty to address deficiencies

Graduation?

YES

NO

YES

NO Work with college faculty to address deficiencies

Work with college faculty to address deficiencies

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

Flow Chart Continued

The Career Education Support Ladder The workplace

(hospital) provides support through clinical resources and education program support initiatives.

The Department of Labor provides support through targeted investments of workforce development resources.

Educational Institutions provide more steps through career ladder program options, flexible course scheduling, student success initiatives, and distance learning delivery models.

Workplace

DOL

Educational Institution

With support more can climb and faster!

To quote an anonymous author, "If you've come here to help me, you can go home. But if you see my struggle as key to your own survival, let's get to work."