East Central Healthcare Alliance

Grant Amount: $88,000

Grant Year: 2004

Service Region: Arenac, Bay, Clare, Gladwin, Huron, Lapeer, Midland, Sanilac, Saginaw and Tuscola Counties

Convener:  Saginaw Midland Bay Michigan Works!

Primary Partners:  Employers (16), Educational (12), Unions/Trade Associations (1), MWA (3), Economic Development (6), Other (4)

Industry Focus:  Health Care

Occupational Focus: Nurses, Certified Nurse Aides, Clinical Technologists, Phlebotomists, Health-Related Therapists, Medical Transcriptionists, and Billing Specialists

Summary: The MiRSA will implement a series of steps, including the Hospital Council Matrix of Academic Preparedness and the Vision 2020 Career Ladders Project to boost enrollment in health care related training.  Colleges will be encouraged to better align course offerings based on employer occupational demand.  Hospitals and other health care providers will be encouraged to increase clinical opportunities.  The MiRSA has also begun a campaign to encourage the return of those trained in the health professions but who are not currently working in health care related careers.

Note: In 2007, the East Central Healthcare Alliance received an expansion grant of $90,000. The East Central Healthcare Alliance expanded into five counties to make the region consistent with the boundaries of the Hospital Council of East Central Michigan.  The MiRSA will be expanding the use of their clinical placement calendar and researching ways to retain retiring nurses as teachers.

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.

  Tri County Advanced Manufacturing Alliance

Grant Amount: $90,000

Grant Year: 2006

Service Region: Saginaw Midland and Bay Counties

Convener: Saginaw, Midland Bay Michigan Works! and the Saginaw Valley Manufacturers' Association

Primary Partners: Employers (0), Educational (6), Unions/Trade Associations (2),MWA (1), Economic Development (6), Other (3)

Industry Focus: Advanced Manufacturing

Occupational Focus: Manufacturing Technology and Recruitment

Summary: The Saginaw Valley Manufacturers' Association has identified several areas that need to be addressed to sustain manufacturing in the area: increase the number of students choosing manufacturing as a career through the expansion of career ladders, close incumbent workers skill gaps and diversify current businesses to succeed in new markets. The MiRSA has developed a work plan to address these issues.