Allied Health/Nursing
1. Why a Non-Credit CNA program in Allied Health/Nursing?
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- The Allied Health Noncredit CNA Program is a direct response to the shortage of first-line healthcare workers in the Los Angeles area, the need to reduce equity gaps for low-income students, and the desire to increase health equity outcomes for patients of different cultures, experiences, and backgrounds.
- This Program is particularly relevant given the negative impacts of COVID-19 on Southern California’s traditionally underserved populations. Thus, leveraging the untapped potential of students who might not otherwise find work or could not afford credit-based classes to help build equitable healthcare-centrism into the regional workforce is a unifying goal of the Program.
- Community College Faculty and Employer Partners couple world-class in-person instruction with hands-on skill development for people entering a healthcare career field, so that the next generation of Allied Health professionals have a solid foundation for the many adjacent career pathways that provide that will secure livable-wage jobs within a career ladder.
2. The Work
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- Allied Health CAN members attend 1.5-hr monthly meetings. Conveners and Facilitators develop meeting agendas and discussion guides to align community college faculty and employer partners on curriculum development, professional liability insurance work, and work-based learning (WBL) and job placement strategies based on CAN goals through LA DEO and the local AJCC's. Faculty are encouraged to look at their institutions holistically and identify what resources can be used to address and overcome institutional challenges students face in finding WBL opportunities and jobs in the LA region. Finally, facilitators set expectations for CAN Members using a Next Steps & Action Commitments template for them to use individually and in assigned subcommittees in preparation for and between monthly meetings.
3. Participants
Faculty
- Dr. Linda Thierry Compton College
- Dr. Shirley Thomas Compton College
- Venus Soriano Mt. San Antonio College
- Dr. Jeong K. O Pasadena City College
- Joyce Z. Muyingo Pasadena City College
- Patty Bucho Long Beach City College
- Lynn Yamakawa Los Angeles Harbor College
- Leticia Barajas East Los Angeles College
Employer Partners
- Maxim Healthcare Services
- Los Angeles County Workforce Development Board (WDB)
- Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO)
- Los Angeles County Department of Health Services (DHS)
- America’s Job Center of California (AJCC)
Convener & Facilitators
4. Outcomes
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- Fall 2023 Noncredit CNA Program Pilots at Compton College and East Los Angeles College
- An innovative Noncredit CNA program which includes a curriculum and jobs program, that can be adopted at any community college in the region
- Enduring relationships between Los Angeles Community Colleges and regional Employer Partners
- Internship opportunities for each student in the pilot cohorts with private employer partners
- Livable wage benefited jobs for each student in the pilot cohort at private employers, and LA County facilities for traditionally underserved students, many of whom may be first generation college students, come from BIPOC and LGBTQ+ experiences, formerly incarcerated individuals, and/or workers making a shift in their career trajectories due to the rising cost of wages and the COVID-19 pandemic.
- A LARC Noncredit CNA Project & Curriculum Manual for community colleges in Los Angeles County that preserves and answers the Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How of the process so that the Noncredit CNA Program is easily replicable and streamlined across the region
5. Resources
6. Key Contacts
Faculty
- Dr. Linda Thierry, DNP, MSN-Ed, BSN-PHN, RN (Compton College)
- Dr. Shirley Thomas, EdD, MSN-FNP, RNC-OB, CPN, PM (Compton College)
- Venus Soriano, BSN, RN, PHN (Mt. San Antonio College)
Employer Partners
- Bryan Lopez, LA County Department of Economic Opportunity
- Joel Moreno, Business Development Manager (Maxim Healthcare Services)
Conveners & Facilitators
Cosmetology
1. Why Cosmetology?
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- During the pandemic, many private cosmetology programs in LA County closed, which created an opportunity for LARC Community College Cosmetology programs to work together to become the leading choice for training, by positioning themselves as the smart choice for training future cosmetologists.
- Cosmetology was identified by the LARC Faculty Innovation Hub Steering Committee as a rapidly growing career pathway, but one with lower than desired student success outcomes. Additionally, it is a discipline that was hit especially hard during the pandemic due to the required lab work done in person.
- There was a need for Cosmetology faculty across the region to come together and strategize best practices on how to ensure student success in the face of California state legislation SB 803 requirements decreasing student hours from 1600 to 1000 (which is the most significant change in the Cosmetology program in 2 decades)
- Cosmetology faculty saw this as a barrier to student success, completion, licensing, and a successful career pathway.
- Curriculum had to be assessed and modified to meet the changes to this decrease in hours
- Bridge partnerships with employer partners across the region, allowing for more opportunities to get students hired at different jobs. Partnerships with employer partners will ensure the community colleges are teaching the right skills that employers desire; this will also facilitate paid internships and immediate hire after certificate completion.
- Boost enrollment by offering something to traditionally disadvantaged students that is only available at the LARC Cosmetology programs.
- Boost completion and licensing metrics significantly post changes to state requirements
- Enable and encourage Cosmetology faculty across the region to build relationships, share best practices, and identify/solve current and future problems together.
- Throughout all the objectives, student success and equity were main focal points to drive the strategies.
2. Result Statement
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- Through a high-quality education, prospective Barbering, Cosmetology, Nail and Skin Care students from all backgrounds will achieve technical & soft skills and licensure that could lead to gainful employment.
3. The Work / Activities
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- Two hour, monthly meetings to strategize objectives, tactics, roles, and provide project updates
- Assignments in-between meetings to ensure the work always moves forward
- BrandIQ as convener and facilitator developed meeting agendas, coordinated logistics for meetings, discussion guides, facilitated and recapped meetings, set expectations for CAN members, and followed up on next steps and action commitments
4. Participants
Faculty
- Charlene Brewer-Smith El Camino College
- Sean Moore Compton College
- Maria Fischer Citrus College
- Scott Botma LA Trade-Tech College
- Debbie Perret Santa Monica College
Employer Partners
- Canvas by Instructure
- West Willmore
Convener & Facilitators
5. Outcomes
- Develop a robust and constantly updated online Test Bank on Canvas for Cosmetology students and graduates to practice and study for the credentialing test. This will play a huge part in ensuring student success and raising completion metrics.
- Analysis of Cosmetology timecards and progress chats across the region to determine areas of curriculum development based on decrease of hours from 1600 to 1000.
- Initial strategies on hosting a regional Cosmetology meeting that will align on Cosmetology objectives and develop tactical strategies on a regional level.
- Strategize how to continue working on CAN objectives by this newly formed Cosmetology faculty cohort ongoingly.
- One of the most valued outcomes expressed by faculty members taking part in the CAN is that the CAN has facilitated networking, sharing ideas/best practices, and collaboration with Cosmetology facility across the region, which has been beneficial for their personal careers and their programs.
6. Other Desired Future Outcomes
Enable Technology in Cosmetology Programs
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- Especially important in a Post-COVID environment; Ensure access to tech for all. The Test Bank one outcome in this bucket
Employer Partnerships
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- Engage employers to connect with cosmetology students through internships, professional development, and job opportunities.
Create K-12 Pipeline In Cosmetology Enrollment
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- Focused on high school juniors and seniors to inspire enrollment in cosmetology programs
