RyeCity REVIEW THE
November 17, 2023 | Vol. 10, Number 44 | www.ryecityreview.com
County health care pipeline program exceeds enrollment goals
TITLE TOWN! Rye football players celebrate their Section 1 title win on Saturday, Nov. 11. Last weekend, while the Garnets won football gold, the Rye girls soccer team brought home a state title. See more inside. Photo/Mike Smith
County board receives 2024 operating budget On Thursday, Nov. 9, the Board of Legislators (BOL) received the 2024 Operating Budget from the County Executive representing a total of $2.4 billion. Continuing initiatives include: Health and Mental Health including Maternal Mortality ($1 million allocated), FQHC’s ($3 million to bolster Federally Qualified Health Centers in the area), Tobacco Cessation ($1.5 million), Telehealth for seniors ($300,000), Project Alliance ($5.6 million to continue the County’s partnership between mental health providers and public safety, Social Services ($1.3 million and a Childcare Scholarship program with expanded eligibility of up to 500% FPL), Environmental
Initiatives ($25 million) including EV Charging Infrastructure, Housing ($90-$100 million) including an Affordable Housing Investment Flex Fund, Economic Development and Tourism ($7.9 million) including the DIG (Downtown Improvement Grant, $1.5 million), Workforce Training with WCA ($300,000), ARPA Funded Tourism ($2.1 million), and fully-funded Emergency Services and Public Safety ($77.7 million). New initiatives for 2024 include: Planning for natural disasters, including a Flood, fire, and non-FEMA emergency recovery program, nonprofit funding to assist families during relocation ($300,000), Mental Health outpatient clinical
expansion ($975,000), Housing programming, including a Landlord Tenant Assistance Program to fund Housing Authorities for necessary repairs of rental properties ($7 million), Eviction Prevention Assistance, Emergency Services and Public Safety including the HERRO Scholarship Program (increased from $500,000 to $600,000), Correction, introducing a new class of Correction officers, and NonFor-Profits ($5 million included for funding). Board Chair Vedat Gashi said, “Approval of the budget is one of the most important things we do at the Board. We take this process
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The Westchester County Office of Economic Development (OED) and Westchester County Association (WCA) today announced the Westchester Healthcare Talent Pipeline Program (HTPP), which launched in spring of 2022, has connected 101 hires to employment. The combined income of those who have successfully secured employment is more than $3.2 million, which represents an economic return of 10:1. Participants have begun working with local organizations, including ENT & Allergy Associates, Epic Healthcare, Nyack Hospital, Mt. Vernon Neighborhood Health Center and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Westchester County Executive George Latimer said: “The healthcare industry’s workforce was significantly disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Through the Healthcare Talent Pipeline Program, we aimed to train the industry’s next generation of employees to help address a pervasive talent shortage. The early success of the program demonstrates that breaking down common barriers to skills training, higher education and economic stability is critical for ensuring employers have access to the local talent they need to fulfill their missions.” Bridget Gibbons, Westchester County Director of Economic Development, said: “The Westchester County Association has skillfully bridged the gap between employers’ needs and the barriers that were deterring students from pursuing training in the healthcare field. The program has attracted a diverse pool of students, many of whom are bilingual, who are now equipped to support our local healthcare employers as their newest, skilled team members. We thank the
Westchester County Association for leading this important program and the many partners and employers who have helped to make it a success.” Jason Chapin, Westchester County Association Director of Workforce Development, said: “The program has been a big success because of the strong partnerships that have been created and the significant supports and resources that have been provided to job seekers. It’s also great to know HTPP is helping healthcare employers fill key positions and build new and sustainable talent pipelines. We’re very grateful to the County for making this possible.” The HTPP, funded by Westchester County, was designed to recruit 160 job seekers and employees to be trained by Westchester Community College (WCC) and SWBOCES for certified nursing assistant, medical assistant and medical administrative assistant jobs. Participants received computer training from The STEM Alliance and job readiness and service excellence training from Leadership Learning Group. The Westchester-Putnam Workforce Development Board provides major funding for the program’s healthcare training at WCC and SWBOCES. Nonprofit Westchester and other nonprofits were enlisted to assist with recruitment and support services. The program’s employment partners include ENT & Allergy Associates, Westmed/Summit Health, Open Door Family Medical Center and United Hebrew of New Rochelle. Westchester County funds $1,000 stipends to participants to help them cover expenses while in training and job searching. Given the success of the program it will be expanded to train more individuals in the future.