CWC, partners awarded health care grant

Central Wyoming College and two state partners have been awarded a sizeable federal grant  to educate Wyoming workers seeking careers in health care.
 
The $5 million grant was awarded to the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services (DWS) and its partners CWC and the CLIMB Wyoming program.
 
Awarded through a competitive process, the grant was announced by U.S. Labor Secretary Hilda L. Solis on Wednesday.  It will allow training of 1,410 Wyoming workers over the next four years in occupations such as nursing, medical records technician, health information and dental assistant.
 
Lynne McAuliffe, dean of Workforce and Community Education at CWC, said the timing of the grant announcement is ideal. “It’s very timely in that we will begin construction on our new Allied Health and Science Center in May, and this grant will allow us a rapid expansion of our allied health offerings, which will help ease our shortage of skilled health care workers for the state of Wyoming,” she said.
 
McAuliffe said CWC will target recruitment of low-income single mothers with children at home, Native Americans, veterans and eligible spouses, unemployed workers, low-skilled workers, and those requiring training/education to advance into the health care field.
Central receives $2.5 million to provide the training, though McAuliffe said the college is prepared to sustain the career pathways program beyond the grant period.
 
“We’re thrilled to be able to offer this training in collaboration with an outstanding group of employer partners, as well as Central Wyoming College and CLIMB Wyoming,” DWS Director Joan Evans said.  “This training will provide exciting opportunities for Wyoming workers in emerging health care occupations.”
 
CLIMB Wyoming is a non-profit organization that has helped more than 1,300 women enter higher-paying careers.