(Provided by Jennifer Burrows and Sophia Kauffman)
Through Sierra Jobs First, we strengthened healthcare collaboration across the Sierra region, connecting healthcare employers, education and training providers, workforce organizations, public health agencies, Tribal healthcare partners, community organizations, and economic development partners around shared regional priorities.
A major achievement was the launch and growth of the Sierra Healthcare Industry Partnership (SHIP), which has convened partners through regional gatherings in Jamestown and Mammoth Lakes, quarterly virtual workgroups, and ongoing communications focused on healthcare workforce needs, funding opportunities, and stronger education-to-employment pathways.
The work also led to the establishment of the Mono/Inyo Behavioral Health Workgroup, creating an ongoing forum for partners to address behavioral health workforce and service needs in the Eastern Sierra.
On the education and workforce side, Jen worked closely with Cerro Coso Community College, convening healthcare workforce advisory discussions that helped inform development and expansion of programs including hybrid EMT, paramedic, physical therapy assistant, radiologic technology, and nursing pathways, while also facilitating new connections between Cerro Coso, Columbia College, Amador College Connect, Eastern Sierra high schools, and adult education partners.
The sector coordination work supported healthcare-focused Sierra Jobs First Catalyst Projects, including the hybrid EMT program, Toiyabe Indian Health’s dental initiative, and an assessment of healthcare workforce and access needs in the Eastern Sierra; helped advance dual-enrollment and career exploration opportunities for local students; supported regional grant development; and elevated issues including nursing and allied health shortages, clinical training capacity, women’s health, healthcare access, and workforce housing.
Perhaps most importantly, Sierra Jobs First created relationships across institutions and counties that previously had limited opportunities to work together, providing a much stronger regional foundation for continued healthcare workforce collaboration.
What Now?
While the Sierra Jobs First Healthcare Industry Sector Coordinator work concluded at the end of August, the partnerships and momentum it helped create will continue.
SHIP will remain active as a regional healthcare collaborative, with support from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grants Program (SCC5) in partnership with Columbia College helping provide a runway for continued healthcare workforce coordination.
Mother Lode Job Training will remain engaged in this next chapter of the work, continuing to convene partners, strengthen employer-education connections, support healthcare workforce and career pathway development, share regional resources and opportunities, and respond collaboratively to emerging needs. Jen Burrows will continue to partner with regional partners, HealthForce Partners, and UC Davis to develop healthcare pathways throughout the region to create a sustainable local workforce.
Healthcare employers, educators, workforce and economic development partners, public health agencies, Tribal partners, community organizations, and others interested in this work are encouraged to stay involved through SHIP’s workgroups, newsletter, and online forum. Learn more and join the SHIP mailing list at mljt.org/ship, or reach out directly to Jen or Sophia to get involved.