Our partners are getting students and entry-level workers ready to excel in those jobs. Together, we’re making the healthcare sector a driver of local economic prosperity—and health.

For most Americans, economic stability—money enough to meet current needs and set some aside for the future—is tied to a good job, one that offers steady, safe, living-wage work and the possibility of advancement. 

For all Americans, economic stability has an outsize impact on health.

Metropolitan Chicago has its share of communities in which good jobs are scarce, educational attainment is low, and economic stability is elusive. We believe, as do our partners, that growth in our region’s healthcare sector presents us with a real opportunity to change the trajectory of these communities while improving health.

If we can connect young people to jobs that pay well, we can increase their economic stability, which in turn will increase the pool of resources—economic, social, and professional—that will one day be available to their children. If we work with employers to meet their needs for high-quality, work-ready healthcare professionals, we can encourage local hiring while improving health care overall. And if we increase the diversity and cultural competence of our healthcare workforce, we can improve patient satisfaction, healthcare utilization, and even health outcomes in our increasingly diverse society.

Percentage of students who plan to continue education

To succeed, we must pay attention to the needs, challenges, and strengths of students and entry-level workers, as well as veterans, immigrants, and refugees with previous healthcare experience. We must also recognize the capabilities and limitations of those who train or support aspiring job candidates and those who hire or promote them. So we work with the Chicago Public Schools to provide background checks and scrubs for CNA students. We work with organizations that increase student success with tutoring, stipends, personal supports, and professional enrichment activities. We work with hospitals who provide critically important opportunities for site visits, job shadows, summer internships, and practicums, as well as essential mentoring and workforce development programs. 

Finally, we work with fellow funders, employers, and educators to identify and align the needs and goals of this complex ecosystem and ensure that the pipeline we’re building together will deliver on its promise for all of us.