From Dislocated to In-Demand
Right now there is a real shortage of quality rural home care providers in Washington State. Home health care is a career that demands people of a remarkable skillset: patient, compassionate, and trained in the unique needs of a home health care environment. The workforce partnership – the relationship between partners like SkillSource, support agencies, government and other funding, training providers, and employers – collaborates to fill that need with remarkable people like Maribel.
Maribel moved from Arizona to Washington, pregnant, alone, and determined to build a stable future for her family. When she was laid off due to cutbacks from a general labor position, she came to SkillSource in Wenatchee to find a new path from dislocated worker, to a career in an in-demand industry.
Working with her career trainers at SkillSource, Maribel set out on a path that aligned with her strengths, her interests, and with the employment needs of the local healthcare industry. After strengthening her computer skills, she enrolled in the Home Health Care Aide program through Cornerstone Health, earning her credential and license.
Locally-owned home health care provider, Welcome Home Care, then partnered with SkillSource to provide On-the-Job Training (OJT) to Maribel, giving her practical experience that met the real needs of their clients.
Maribel worked with her career trainers to create a Matched Investment Savings Account (MISA), which is an opportunity through Community Reinvestment and the WA State Department of Commerce for people to build equity in assets that help them move forward. As part of a broader network of services that includes career navigation, skills training, and financial coaching, MISA helps Washington residents build stability. Maribel used her MISA to purchase a reliable car so she could get to and complete her training, which meant her forward momentum could keep going.
This is how workforce development works. Maribel is now a licensed home health aide with Welcome Home Care, with essential, employable skills in rural home care, and her own reliable vehicle to get her where she needs to go.
Whether someone is new to the workforce, or a dislocated worker in need of a new career, the way forward is not alone, but in partnership.
Congratulations to Maribel and Welcome Home Care!
