By VOICE & VIEWPOINT NEWSWIRE
San Diego College of Continuing Education (SDCCE) has secured a nearly $1.5 million state grant for the second year of a three-year collaborative effort aimed at building fluency among English language learners while expanding pathways for them to embark upon and diversify in-demand healthcare careers.
“With careful planning, collaboration, and structured program delivery, we will help transform the landscape of healthcare education for English language learners in San Diego, as well as help satisfy the demand for CNAs, optical technicians, and ophthalmic assistants,” said SDCCE President Dr. Tina M. King.
Students are being recruited from ESL classes at SDCCE, San Diego Unified School District high schools and the San Diego Adult School for SDCCE’s Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program and new healthcare pathways for bilingual ophthalmic technicians and optical technicians.
The grants are funding student support, the hiring of experienced instructors, curriculum development and new training materials. In addition to vocational training, students will take part in workshops emphasizing vocational English skills in a healthcare context, with healthcare institutions providing hands-on experiences.
The initiative’s success will be measured by the number of students completing the program, earning a credential and finding a job in their field of study, in addition to average salaries of students both before and after taking part. Goals include at least 85% of students in the CNA portion of the program passing a certification exam and a significant percentage of English language learners securing gainful employment within six months of completing their program.
This is the third time in a little more than a year that SDCCE has received a grant of more than $1 million to significantly expand its award-winning workforce training programs.
