A renewal grant of $525,000 to Le Moyne from the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation (MCHF) will help to address the need for more culturally and linguistically diverse health professionals by tapping the significant number of internationally trained health workers now living in the Central New York region.
Launched in 2020 thanks to a $500,000 grant from the MCHF, the Healthcare Advancement Resource Center (HARC) helps healthcare workers who received their education and training in a foreign country to obtain credentials, certifications and additional training or education needed to work in the healthcare sector in the United States. More than 100 participants are currently enrolled in HARC.
The HARC is formally affiliated with the Welcome Back Initiative, which has resulted in the opening of more than 10 centers across the nation to provide a wide range of services to trained professionals who are seeking work in the U.S. healthcare sector. Currently, Le Moyne partners with 20 Central New York community resource agencies to identify and reach local populations most in need of these services.
“This renewal grant will allow Le Moyne to continue serving our international medical graduate community in Central New York,” said HARC Director Stella Rwanda, Ph.D. “The HARC has not only impacted participants’ employment, socioeconomic status, and overall well-being, it has also increased the number of ethnically diverse healthcare workers in the Syracuse community.”
“The work that the HARC does to serve our marginalized communities exemplifies Le Moyne’s mission as a Jesuit institution,” said Meega Wells, Ph.D., dean of the Purcell School of Professional Studies, which oversees HARC. “This grant from the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation enables us to continue the important work that the Center has accomplished since its inception.”
The recent grant will fund the project for the calendar year 2023. With a goal of assisting over 150 individuals by October 2023, the Center will continue to offer comprehensive educational interventions tailored to meet the specific needs of individuals enrolled in the HARC. The center provides a wide-range of services such as educational programs (including English language proficiency), refresher courses, job placement assistance, preparation for the Nursing National Council Licensure (NCLEX) exam, a lending library, resume assistance and interview practice.
The Mother Cabrini Health Foundation is a private, nonprofit organization whose mission is to improve the health and wellbeing of New Yorkers, bolster the health outcomes of vulnerable communities, eliminate barriers to care, and bridge gaps in health services. Named after a tireless advocate for immigrants, children, and the poor, the foundation funds programs and initiatives across New York State that either provide direct healthcare services or address the social determinants of health.