Building Pathways to a Brighter Future
Edmonds College
Innovations in Creating Access to Careers in Healthcare (I-CATCH)
Location: Lynnwood, WA
OTHER GRANT INFORMATION
Six-Year Project Period: September 30, 2015 - September 29, 2021*
Annual Award Amount: $3,000,000
Type of Organization: Public/State-Controlled Institution of Higher Education
Service Area: Snohomish, Skagit, Island, Whatcom, and King Counties in Washington
Target Population: Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) recipients, low-income individuals, veterans, refugees, immigrants, homeless individuals, persons with disabilities, and displaced homemakers
FIVE-YEAR QUANTIFIABLE PROJECTIONS
Number of individuals that will be enrolled in the overall HPOG program: 1,250
Number of TANF recipients that will be enrolled: 405
Number of individual participants that will begin basic skills education: 240
Number of individual participants that will complete basic skills education: 120
Number of participants that will begin any healthcare occupational training: 1,065
Number of participants that will complete any healthcare occupational training: 800
Number of individual participants that will obtain employment in a healthcare occupation: 535
ABSTRACT
I-CATCH provides an online and on-the-ground supportive learning community designed to move TANF recipients and other low-income individuals through a pathway toward high-demand healthcare careers. Occupational training is provided for: Nursing Assistant, Licensed Practical Nurse, Registered Nurse, Phlebotomist, Medical Interpreting, Pharmacy Technician, Medical Assistant, Medical Records and Health Information Technician, Medical Billing and Coding, Medical Secretary, Medical and Clinical Lab Techs, EKG Technician, Social and Human Service Assistants, Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorders Counselors, Healthcare Support Workers, and Central Sterile Processors. Support services include academic and financial aid advising; financial assistance with tuition, books, fees, exams, certification/licenses, CPR training, uniforms, and equipment required for externships, including stethoscopes and blood pressure cuffs; laptops, including individualized technical support; work readiness training; job search, placement, and retention services; and navigation to community resources via referrals for mental health services, veterans’ assistance, health services, housing search and emergency support services, legal services, domestic violence services, tax preparation, and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) enrollment. Educational partners include Edmonds, Everett, Whatcom, and Skagit Valley Colleges. I-CATCH has a commitment of support from the Washington State Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board and the Washington State Apprenticeship and Training Council. A representative from the Washington State Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board has been added to the HPOG community partner leader team. Workforce Snohomish is the designated WIB and has partnered with I-CATCH since HPOG 1.0. I-CATCH works closely with regional offices of the Washington State Department of Health and Human Services to ensure clear referral processes. The I-CATCH program is co-located with WorkFirst outreach offices on each college campus. I-CATCH has strong support of regional and state Department of Social and Health Services leadership and serves on the countywide Local Planning Area Council. An MOU with Snohomish County Homelessness projects has also been signed to refer students to I-CATCH.
*This second round of grant awards has been extended an additional 12 months, ending September 29, 2021.