NIC Awarded Grant

North Idaho College has been awarded a $202,500 Idaho Department of Labor grant to fund three new courses in the health care field: Mental Health Assistant, Restorative Aide and Patient Care Coordinator.

NIC Workforce Training Center has partnered with three health care providers in North Idaho, Kootenai Health, Valley Vista Care and Northwest Hospital Alliance, to help develop and implement the Health Career Pathway Project. The three industry partners are contributing a $50,625 match for the grant. The Northwest Hospital Alliance includes five independent hospitals: Benewah Community Hospital (St. Maries), Bonner General Health (Sandpoint), Boundary Community Hospital (Bonners Ferry), Kootenai Health (Coeur d’Alene) and Shoshone Medical Center (Kellogg).

“The Health Career Pathway Project will address skill gaps in high-demand occupations within the health care sector,” said Marie Price, NIC director of Workforce Training and Community Education. “Health care is one of the fastest growing industries in North Idaho and this grant will help us make sure training is available for these jobs throughout the region. The grant further develops a degree-seeking pathway in health care to increase employment and wages of Idaho workers in our region.”

According to grant requirements, 135 certified nursing assistants (CNAs) will complete training and national certification in the next two years.

“It is exciting to advance the skill set of CNAs and work with the industry to meet the needs of their patients,” said Dotty Heberer, NIC CNA and Health Professions coordinator and project manager for the grant. “When CNAs earn additional credentials, it leads to greater job satisfaction and quality care.”

Through research and industry advisors, both training and awareness in mental health were identified as the strongest needs in the region. Working with mental health experts, NIC Workforce Training launched the Mental Health Assistant and Mental Health First Aid courses in 2015.

“I learned so much (taking the Mental Health Assistant course) and using all the knowledge at the hospital has made my job much easier,” said Kootenai Health CNA Tess Garcia. “It taught me how to communicate effectively and positively.”

Restorative Aides work in rehabilitation settings in long-term care and hospitals. NIC’s course prepares students for the national certification exam — the first college in the state to do so.

Patient Care Coordinator is a redesign of the Health Unit Coordinator course in response to changes in health care technology and practices. The Patient Care Coordinator training will enhance the skill set of the current HUC role in providing added support for case management and discharge planners with a strong emphasis in customer service.

To learn more about these grant-related programs, contact Dotty Heberer, NIC CNA and Health Professions coordinator, at 208.665.5448.

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