In mid 2009, SkillUp Washington gave $50,000 in planning and grant writing funds to the Health Work Force Institute and two labor management training partnerships (the SEIU Healthcare 1199NW Multi-Employer Fund for training hospital and allied health care workers, and the SEIU Healthcare NW Training Partnership for training long term care workers). Efforts to submit a health care ARRA proposal led to a statewide collaboration. A proposal was submitted to the DOL in October 2009 and the lead applicant for the grant was the Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board. Over 15 community colleges, 7 workforce boards, 15 acute and ambulatory care employers, and 7 long term care employers partnered on this proposal. If awarded, funding the project will develop and/or expand and permanently establish statewide innovative strategies for training health care workers, many already proven in Washington. The programs include apprenticeships in long term care, distance learning, non-traditional clinical rotations, employers and colleges sharing nurses as workers/educators. Hundreds of workers will be served through this grant. To view an abstract of the proposal submitted, please click here.