Governor Hochul announces $646 million to recruit and train thousands more health care workers across New York
ALBANY, NY- Governor Kathy Hochul has announced three Workforce Investment Organizations (WIO) will receive awards totaling up to $646 million over the next three years to implement the Career Pathways Training (CPT) Program, which will recruit and train thousands of new health, mental health, and social care workers across New York.
This program will also provide new career advancement opportunities to many current health care workers throughout the State. The WIO awardees are 1199SEIU Training and Employment Funds, Iroquois Healthcare Association, and the Finger Lakes Performing Provider System.
This announcement is made possible through the Governor's 1115 New York Health Equity Reform Waiver approved in January.
“The health of every New Yorker depends on a strong, stable, and equitable health care system, and health care workers are its very foundation,” Governor Hochul said.
“This investment allows us to continue to retain and grow our health care workforce and ensure we deliver the highest quality health care for New Yorkers.”
As the designated WIOs under the CPT Program, the 1199SEIU Training and Employment Funds, Iroquois Healthcare Association, and Finger Lakes Performing Provider System will use this new funding to:
- Conduct outreach and recruit thousands of new and current health, mental health, and social care workers for participation in the CPT Program.
- Support CPT Program participants with tutoring and other academic support such as apprenticeship and mentorship programs.
- Make payments to support participants’ tuition program fees, textbooks and supplies.
- Aid in job readiness and placement to meet service commitments.
- Hold educational programs for new and current health, mental health, and social care workers, including application and enrollment assistance.
- Form partnerships with educational institutions and other stakeholders to increase career opportunities for CPT program participants.
- Perform data collection and reporting on CPT program performance metrics, spending, and other information.
The funding awarded to these Workforce Investment Organizations is possible because Governor Hochul secured an amendment to New York’s Medicaid Section 1115 Demonstration that allows New York to invest nearly $6 billion of federal funding into New York's health care system over the next three years.
The waiver amendment is now allowing New York to make transformative investments, including establishing Social Care Networks to integrate health, behavioral, and social care services that connect high-need members to critical nutritional and housing support services; enhancing access to coordinated and comprehensive treatment for substance use disorders; investing in primary care and making long-term, sustainable investments in the state’s health care workforce.
Image via the office of New York Governor Kathy Hochul.