One-stop center earns 2017 MediStar award for career opportunities in health care
LOUISVILLE, KY (Oct. 25, 2017) – A one-stop center that connects people to the rising number of health care jobs in the Louisville area has been recognized for improving education and career opportunities in the healthcare field.
The Kentucky Health Career Center (KHCC) received the A.O. Sullivan Award for Excellence in Education at the 11th annual MediStar Awards, Tuesday evening at the Muhammad Ali Center. The annual award goes to organizations that use creative ways to enhance the level of knowledge, education and career opportunity in health care.
“The health care sector is booming in Louisville, and this center has proven to be a great resource for people who want to join the industry or advance their existing career.”
The KHCC, located at 746 S. 5th St. in Louisville, offers workshops, career assessments, career counseling, access to training, and job placement into the health care sector.
Created by KentuckianaWorks and funded primarily by federal Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act dollars, the center has placed more than 355 individuals into health care positions at an average wage of $17.45 since January 2016.
Health care jobs providing good wages remain plentiful in the Louisville area, according to the Career Calculator, an online data app developed by KentuckianaWorks. For example, there were more than 1,800 positions open in the last 90 days for Registered Nurses, jobs with a starting pay between $45,000 and $53,000 a year.
The center works closely with employers in the Health Careers Collaborative of Greater Louisville to tailor programs and provide weekly “Employer Spotlights,” where job seekers can interview directly for positions and learn more about the industry.
“The KHCC is a place where employers can join forces – collaboratively rather than competitively – to promote health care careers,” said Todd Schmiedeler, SVP, Foundation & Workforce Development, Trilogy Health Services, who chairs the Health Careers Collaborative of Greater Louisville.
he center uses Labor Market information from KentuckianaWorks and real time input from employers to promote the healthcare occupations that are most in demand. Staff provide individuals with career assessments that help identify the best jobs for them. Career counseling helps job seekers and current employees learn how to better position themselves for career success through additional training or by refining their resumes and sharpening interviewing skills.
The KHCC responds to specific needs in the health care workforce and partners with employers and community organizations on programs such as an Acute Care Nurse Aide training program, a Hispanic Job Fair for immigrants and refugees, free NCLEX workshops, a new EMT training and career fairs for graduates of the JCPS health career magnet programs.
The Kentucky Health Career Center, which opened in late 2015, was the second career center created by KentuckianaWorks to focus on a specific industry sector. The first, the Kentucky Manufacturing Career Center, opened in 2013.
The two specialized centers are part of a regional system of career center services where job seekers can find jobs and education/training opportunities in all industries and employers can post openings. The career services are operated by ResCare Workforce Services.
“Working directly with employers in key high-growth, high-demand industries like health care, manufacturing and technology helps us maximize job and career opportunities for our customers,” said Michael Gritton, executive director of KentuckianaWorks, the Workforce Development Board for the Louisville region.
More information about the Kentucky Health Career Center, is available at www.kentuckianaworks.org/khcc, or by calling (502) 574-3344.
