Moore announces grants toward MD health care workforce

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Gov. Wes Moore joined the Maryland Department of Labor to recently announce nearly $600,000 in grants designated to strengthen the state’s health care workforce.

According to the Department of Labor, the funds will provide career pathways and increase retention among health care workers. Made possible through the Career Pathways for Healthcare Workers Program and Direct Care Workforce Innovation Program, the grants will also offer occupational training opportunities for more than 300 health care professionals.

“You cannot have a strong healthcare system without skilled healthcare professionals at the helm, from physicians to technicians,” Moore said. 

“In partnership with our allies in healthcare, the private sector, and organized labor, we are building a stronger pipeline to good-paying jobs that uplift our communities and keep our people healthy.”

Career Pathways for Healthcare Workers Program grants will invest about $340,000 to support eight health care organizations in their efforts to upskill frontline health care employees, state officials said. 

Professionals like nursing assistants, patient care technicians and surgical technologists will benefit from career pathways grants – set aside for occupational training to accelerate credentialing and increase wages.

Grant awardees, covering Baltimore City, Eastern Shore, and Baltimore, Anne Arundel, Howard, Carroll, Montgomery and Prince George’s counties, include:

• Johns Hopkins Hospital
• Levindale Hebrew Geriatric Center and Hospital
• Shore Health System Inc.
• Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center 
• Holy Cross Health Inc.
• Sinai Hospital of Baltimore Inc.
• Johns Hopkins Howard County Medical Center
• UM Baltimore Washington Medical Center

“These investments in Maryland’s healthcare workforce will address a critical need for more healthcare workers in our state, and support workers who want to enter healthcare fields and advance their careers,” Department of Labor Secretary Portia Wu said.

“Having more highly-skilled healthcare workers will directly improve health outcomes for Marylanders.”

Similarly, Direct Care Workforce Innovation Program grants will provide nearly $240,000 to help employers and workforce organizations recruit, retain and advance direct care workers.

Grantees include the Asian American Center of Frederick; 1199 SEIU; Employ Prince George’s; NextGen Synergy, Inc.; and UM Baltimore Washington Medical Center.