Grant Amount: $88,000

Grant Year:  2004

Service Region: Antrim, Benzie, Charlevoix, Emmet, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Leelanau, Manistee, Missaukee, and Wexford Counties

Convener: Northwest Michigan Council of Governments

Primary Partners: Employers (40), Educational (12), Unions/Trade Associations (1), MWA (1), Faith/Community Based (2), Economic Development (6), and Other (9)

Industry Focus:  Health Care

Occupational Focus:  Home Health Aides, Nurse Aides, Homemaker and & Respite Care Workers, Competency-Evaluated Nurse Aides (CENA) Training, LPNs, RNs, Technical Specialties

Summary: The MiRSA strives to (1) increase the pool of qualified, entry-level health care workers; (2) increase the number of students entering secondary and postsecondary health occupation programs; (3) address retention and career ladder movement of people within the health care industry; (4) expand training and professional development opportunities in the various health care occupations; 5) build existing partnerships for a more comprehensive, sustainable system; and (6) affect systemic and cultural change for the health care industry.  The partnership includes 73 private and public organizations.

Note: In 2007, the Healthcare Regional Skills Alliance of Northwest Michigan received an expansion grant of $100,000.  The expansion will shift the focus of the MiRSA from general healthcare training to training for long-term care providers.  The training will focus on dementia, hospice and mentoring. The MiRSA is expanded their geographic region by 11 counties to include the Northeast Michigan Healthcare Alliance.  They are planning on developing and maintaining a clinical placement calendar system for their region and training and placing over 100 new and incumbent health care workers.

Michigan Direct Care Worker Readiness Training Program

Grant Amount: $50,000

Grant Year: 2005

Service Region: Statewide

Convener: Michigan Direct Care Workforce Initiative

Primary Partners:Employers (8), Educational (3), Unions/Trade Associations (9), MWA (2), Faith/Community Based (1), Economic Development (0), Other (16)

Industry Focus:  Healthcare

Occupational Focus: Long-Term Care, Certified Nurse Aides, Home Health Aides, and Personal Home Care Aides

Summary: The Michigan Direct Care Workforce Readiness Training Program is focused on increasing retention of the direct care workforce by initially recruiting strong candidates into the field.  This process would include matching skill and aptitude with occupational expectations based upon standards as presented by industry employers and current industry employees.

The Michigan Direct Care Worker Readiness Training Program was designated as a MiRSA just prior to the end of FY 2005.

Team Work Northwest: Hospitality Skills Alliance of Northwest Michigan

Grant Amount/Year:               $100,000 (2008)

Service Region:                      Antrim, Benzie, Charlevoix, Emmet, Grand Traverse,  Kalkaska, Leelanau, Manistee, Missaukee, Wexford

Convener:                              Northwest Michigan Council of Governments

Primary Partners:                   Employers (3), Education (3), MWA (1), Other (6)

Industry Focus:                        Hospitality

Occupational Focus:              Hospitality Workers

Summary:
The partnership between Northwest Michigan Council of Governments and TeamWork NorthWest (TWNW) has been in existence in Northwest Michigan for three years and was established to provide job retention support to struggling workers.  Its primary purpose has been to reduce turnover of employers, thereby stabilizing income for families, while increasing productivity and decreasing costs for employers.