ECC receives state grant for health care worker pipeline

Elgin Community College has been awarded $695,000 from the state of Illinois for the Pipeline for the Advancement of the Healthcare Workforce (PATH) Program.

This program aims to address the shortage of workers in health care, which has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, by expanding opportunities for individuals to obtain credentials and degrees in select health care fields and providing current health care systems the ability to upskill or reskill their workforce.

PATH provides extra wrap-around support, like tuition assistance, textbooks help, and child care, for qualified students pursuing credentials for in-demand health care careers.

"Graduates of ECC's health professions programs readily find employment, and there are not enough graduates to satisfy the needs of local employers," said Lauren Nehlsen, PhD, associate dean, recruitment, outreach services, and global engagement. "The goal of PATH is to remove barriers and encourage more people to train for and enter health care fields."

Nineteen current ECC health profession programs qualify for PATH, with another three short-term training programs being offered through ECC's Workforce Development Division.

Some programs can be completed in six months or less.

The program is open to both new students and current health care workers looking to reskill or upskill.

ECC is hosting multiple information sessions throughout the winter to help interested individuals understand PATH and determine if they qualify.

Learn more about which programs are PATH-eligible and register for an information session at bit.ly/3TNBGRe.

Both in-person and virtual sessions are available. The next information sessions are 10-11 a.m. on the third and fifth Tuesdays of the month: Nov. 15, Dec. 13, Jan. 31 and Feb. 28 (virtual); Nov. 29, Jan. 17 and Feb. 14, in the Alumni Room, Room 182, Building B.