I-BEST Enhanced FTE Application College: Green River Community College I-BEST Instruction Start Date: Summer 07 I-BEST Program Name: Fundamentals of Caregiving Original Submission Date: May 9, 2007 Name/Email of primary contact: Krista Fox (kfox@greenriver.edu) #: 1 Modified 11/06/08 Plan Approved: YES NO Brief Program Summary: (Use the space below to provide a 3 or 4 sentence narrative description of your program. Describe the length of the program, the certificates and number of credits, the target population (i.e. ABE, ESL, both, etc.). This information will be used on the Program Summaries List to share information about your program both internally and externally. The I-BEST Fundamentals of Caregiving program will prepare students for entry-level health care jobs and position them to continue into the Nursing Assistant and/or Core Health Care Program prerequisites. Following completion of the prerequisites, students will be able to pursue education and careers in three healthcare fields Licensed Practical Nurse, Physical Therapist Assistant and Occupational Therapy Assistant. Plan Description Reviewers Findings Reviewers Comments OVERVIEW 1. List the professional-technical program title and CIP/EPC code that has been approved by the SBCTC for this I-BEST program. P-T Program Title _Fundamentals of Caregiving (based on the Health Services Paraprofessional certificate of proficiency) CIP code 51.1593 EPC code 420 2. For each integrated course, provide P-T course information, credit equivalency, ABE/ESL hours and anticipated class size using Format 1. Format 1: P-T course name _Fundamentals of Caregiving: Introduction to Health Occupations Dept./Division_H HSc Course Number:_110 P-T course hours _176 credits 12 credit equivalency _21_ (total credits x 1.75) 1
Separately describe non-integrated ABE/ESL classes that directly support the I-BEST program using Format 2. ABE/ESL hours 88 Class size _15-20 Format 2: ABE/ESL course name and # _Basic Skills for Health Care_. ABE/ESL hours 6 Class size _15-20 ABE Special Topics: : BASIC 094 (Level 2), BASIC 095 (Level 3), BASIC 096 (Level 4), BASIC 097(Level 5/GED Prep), BASIC 098 (Level 6/GED Prep) ESOL Special Topics: : ESOL 092 (Level 2), ESOL 093 (Level 3), ESOL 094 (Level 4), ESOL 095 (Level 5), ESOL 096 (Level 6) 3. List specific job titles, median salaries and number of job openings that demonstrate a skill gap in your region for which I- BEST students will qualify. Data may be derived through a variety of sources including traditional labor market, industry, trade association, and other valid resources. Please indicate the data source. 4. Describe how local and regional employers participated in the Job Title Median Salary 1. Home Health Aide $8.78 $10.86/hr 2. Nursing Aide $9.69 - $13.26/hr 3.Health Care Support $12.07 - $16.25/hr 2 Number of Openings 301 annually in WA 739 annually in WA 167 annually Data source(s): The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics cites physical and occupational therapy aides (rehabilitation aides) as two of the fastest growing occupations, forecasting a 45% employment increase in those fields by 2010. Rapid growth in the field has left qualified aides in short supply. Green River s Health Sciences Division worked collaboratively to develop this certificate. Three Health Services programs
development of the proposed I- BEST program. Please describe their specific role during and after the I-BEST program. 5. Specifically describe how local partners other than employers (WDCs, CBOs, labor unions, etc.) will support the I-BEST program. (OTA, PTA, LPN) recognized that the entry level health care worker was important to their programs and to the industry. These programs worked with their respective advisory committees that include representatives from business, industry and labor to gather input and explore the viability for such a program. The committee agreed that students completing the program would be able to find entry level employment if it were built around the Fundamentals of Caregiving Certificate. Their recommendation stated that the certificate would not only gain students entry to the workplace but prepare them to be successful in furthering their educational skills and preparedness for the three programs. Through the Comprehensive Evaluation program, DSHS and ESD case managers in Auburn, Kent Federal Way and Renton collaborate with Green River s WorkFirst Coordinators to share program information. The college works with the YWCA Career Center and King County Housing Authority to provide ESOL instruction for their students looking for training opportunities. Green River has recently been selected to participate in the Food Stamp Education Tuition (FSET) program that provides tuition assistance for students who qualify for food stamps. This program will be administered in Auburn through the King County YWCA Career Center at Green River Homes (mentioned above). The college s Professional Technical Division regularly shares program information with local service providers. This spring the division hosted a Service Providers Breakfast to introduce them to training and financial aid options for clients. The ABE and ESL programs will participate. The Adult Basic Education GED preparation program has developed a working relationship with the Auburn WorkSource partners through participation in the AECAP project with Judy Alamprese. A presentation for faculty by a panel that included 3
two ESD case workers as well as one of Green River s WorkFirst coordinators and CE personnel introduced faculty to the parents served by WorkFirst. The discussion focused on strategies for helping referrals meet their educational goals and build on the motivation generated by the CE interview process. 6. Describe the educational and career pathway that your I-BEST program is part of. Include how the I-BEST program is: a. is part of an educational pathway that is at least one year in length (45 college level credits); b. uses proactive measures that inform students and engage them in planning a full educational pathway beginning with I-BEST and including stop-in and stop-out points available to them as they progress to a one-year certificate, a two-year degree, and a bachelor s degree, if appropriate; PATHWAY a. The Fundamentals of Caregiving Certificate is the credential required by DSHS for entry-level work in home health care, assisted living or nursing care facilities. Although the FOC courses are not pre-requisites for the CAN, OTA or PTA programs, students who wish to continue their studies would be positioned to enter and complete the two-quarter Nursing Assistant Certificate program (34 credits), the Occupational Therapy Assistant program (121-129 credits) or the Physical Therapist Assistant program (108-113 credits). b. All students will be interviewed prior to entry into I-BEST. This ensures that students are fully aware of their educational options, support services and career pathway. The development of an educational and professional goal sheet will be reviewed with students quarterly. Entry and exit points will be highlighted with all students. c. provides students the opportunity to advance on the career pathway without duplicating courses; d. provides program completers with the requisite education c. Students enrolled in the Fundamentals of Caregiving I-BEST will gain an immediate awareness of their career identity. This certificate program is designed to allow students to explore the phases of the healthcare pathway while giving them the opportunity to develop valuable skills so they can gain entry level employment. The competitiveness of the healthcare industry often keeps students away from entering the pathway. The opportunity to complete the FOC certificate within the class 4
and skills to moving to the next level of certification or instruction leading to a degree; e. provides specific learning supports beyond the federal levels for basic skills students all along the pathway, such as advanced ABE/ESL or creditbearing developmental education courses; f. informs students of employment opportunities in their career pathway as they continue their education and also allows students to be employed at the conclusion of the I-BEST program. is an industry credential moving them closer to the tipping point. READING and WRITING skills are essential prior to entry into Allied Health programs. I-BEST will help students acquire these skills. The Fundamentals of Caregiving Certificate gives students the opportunity to obtain entry-level work in the health care field. d. Students will gain a valuable work credential, medical terminology, and an awareness of the world of health care. The Fundamentals of Caregiving curriculum will include various exercises that ensure students are fully aware of the Career Pathways and all of the entry points for employment and education. Students will be familiar with employment opportunities at each level. e. Students interested in pursuing any of the 3 limited entry programs (OTA, PTA, LPN) will be supported in taking the COMPASS assessment and will find a wide range of classes open to them, including developmental reading and math. Student support centers in Math and Writing provide subjectspecific assistance; the Help Center provides assistance in several additional course areas. Tutors in the centers receive training from the Teaching and Learning Center that addresses the needs of ESOL students. f. The Fundamentals of Caregiving curriculum will include various activities and exercises that ensure students are fully aware of the Health Care Pathway, the various entry points AND the educational pathway. Students will work with Career and Advising Center staff, workforce staff and faculty to identify probable places of employment. When possible employers will be invited to make presentations to the I-BEST Fundamentals of Caregiving class. 5
7. On a separate page, provide a pathway diagram that illustrates both the educational and career pathways described in question 6. For an example, see Appendix C in the Guidelines and Process. 8. Check the description below that best matches your I-BEST program. If you select A, please provide the additional required information: X_ a. Describe how you will ensure that I-BEST completers are given priority status in the advanced professional-technical program. If I-BEST completers need to meet specific assessment scores or other criteria, such as prerequisites, to get priority status, explain how you will prepare students during the I- BEST program to meet the specific assessment scores or other criteria; OR Please see the attachment. Students in the Fundamentals of Caregiving I-BEST program will prepare for the WA State Nursing Assistant registration. For a minimum of eight quarters following completion of the I- BEST Fundamentals of Caregiving course, I-BEST completers will be given priority registration into the college s Nursing Assistant program (20-28 credits) which leads to the Occupational Therapy Assistant AAS degree (121-129 credits). Completers may also enter the Physical Therapist Assistant AAS degree program (108-113 credits). Completers who elect to obtain employment in one of the many jobs open to certificate holders may also return to enter the LPN program (106-111 credits). b. The labor market data provided in response to P-3 shows evidence of available high wage jobs for I-BEST program completers at a minimum of $12 per hour with the exception of King County which is $14 per hour. Job titles and associated wages for completers are also listed in question 3. 6
9. Describe strategies and processes used to recruit and screen a cohort of basic skills students into the I- BEST program. Describe the eligibility requirements, including but not limited to the ESL and/or ABE levels at which students are accepted into the program and the ESL and/or ABE level required for students to be accepted into the next level of the pathway or certificate program. SUCCESS STRATEGIES Participants in the FOC I-BEST must be in ESOL Levels 4, 5 or 6 and/or have permission from the instructors; or in ABE/GED Levels 3, 4, 5, or 6 and/or have permission from the instructors. CNA students must qualify for Reading 94 (COMPASS score between 41-75 on reading section). During their CNA coursework, students must also take Medical Terminology (English 108) so most students take English 90, a spelling class that prepares students for the medical terminology class. There is not a math requirement for the CNA program.. Students will be recruited through effective partnerships with the WorkSource Affiliate Auburn as well as Green River s Worker Retraining and WorkFirst programs. The college s Educational and Career Planners will promote the integrated Fundamentals of Caregiving option to qualified applicants; ABE and ESOL instructors and staff will share information with interested students. Student services offices including Women s Programs and Educational Planning will recruit potential students. Partners in community-based organizations as well as those at other community colleges will be sent informational flyers and/or brochures about the program. Information will also be provided to all : Level 4, 5 and 6 ESL students and Levels 3-6 ABE students, both on-campus and in the community. Notice of the I-BEST Fundamentals of Caregiving classes will be printed in the quarterly college schedule and distributed to every household in Green River s service area. Potential students are invited to attend regularly scheduled Orientation Sessions to get more information about the integrated caregiving course. Each student will take the CASAS appraisal to determine eligibility unless s/he has been enrolled in either ABE or ESOL classes and has valid CASAS test scores. The caregiving and basic skills instructors will interview each student individually to determine his/her commitment to 7
completing the program. Students referred by partner WorkSource agencies will have completed additional interest inventories to further measure interest and aptitude. 10. What strategies do you have in place to assist students in acquiring the financial means for entering the program and continuing it to completion? I-BEST students enrolling in the integrated Fundamentals of Caregiving course will be eligible for funding through Worker Retraining, WorkFirst, Tuition Assistance for Working Parents, and the Food Stamp Education and Training tuition assistance programs. Childcare assistance is available through Working Connections at DSHS. Green River s partnership with the YWCA through the food stamp program will help provide additional support services for eligible students, including rent assistance, utilities shut-off, clothing purchase for interviews and transportation. These funds as well as traditional financial aid options will be presented to students to cover tuition costs. In addition to tuition, funding for childcare, tools, supplies and testing fees are available through these programs. Green River s Foundation has also committed to help I-BEST students with financial assistance in addition to the current Foundation Scholarship for Immigrant Students. Students are introduced to these funding options at regularly scheduled orientation sessions. 11. Describe specific strategies to retain all cohort members to completion of the I-BEST program. Include the proactive measures that will be used to inform I-BEST students how to access the range of support services available to them as college students (library, computer labs, disability support, counseling, child care, etc.) The initial one-on-one interview with each student prior to class registration begins to build a relationship between the student and instructors. Anchoring the proposed I-BEST programs at Green River will be a group of I-BEST liaisons, current workforce staff who are familiar with the programs and comfortable working with students. The liaisons will build relationships with I-BEST faculty and students as well as key student services personnel. The liaisons will act as a faculty resource on-call to follow-up with students who missed a class. This direct intervention will help many students remain in the program by determining if there is a problem and how college and community resources might help solve it. Advance planning for difficult situations and awareness of possible interventions and student services will contribute to student 8 Note: Good.
retention and success. In addition, the liaisons will re-connect with students who have completed the I-BEST program and moved to employment to make sure they know how to re-enter the pathway when and if they choose. Career emphasis and development of quarterly individual education and professional goal sheets help students make the connection between the program activities and employment. Professionals from the field are invited to speak to the class to give real world perspectives. This helps retention because it lends relevance to the content. 12. List program (student) learning outcomes that illustrate integrated professional-technical skill development and basic skills (ABE or ESL) gains. The outcomes must be integrated. Use the Washington State Adult Learning Standards for ESL and ABE and Professional-Technical Competencies that are appropriate as the backbone for developing integrated outcomes. The ESL and ABE standards are available online at: http://www.sbctc.ctc.edu/able/docs/l earningstds/wastateadultlearnings tandards.pdf INSTRUCTION The proposed I-BEST program will link Fundamentals of Caregiving competencies and curriculum with the WA State Learning Standards in reading, writing, speaking, listening and math as they apply to the content. Upon completion of the certificate, students will be able to: Read and comprehend the assigned text including identification and application of correct terminology. Identify their own learning preferences, personal attributes important for health career professionals. Follow specific directions to perform CPR, first aid and routine care provision tasks, interpret charts and diagrams depicting patient vital information and positioning. Extract the meaning of vocabulary relating to stages of growth and development, and the signs, symptoms and treatment of various common physical and emotional conditions. Determine the meaning and apply correctly practices of client rights, infection control, blood borne pathogens, and food handling procedures. 9
Use critical thinking and understanding in analyzing the career opportunities related to personal interests and abilities, and the effect of culture and religion on medicine and health. Speak so that others can understand in order to perform competently as a care provider. Demonstrate skills in using therapeutic communication and differentiate with social communication. Use culturally respectful language and patient (listener) feedback to confirm understanding in the care giving setting. Describe step-by-step procedures in first aid, CPR and self care routines. Practice appropriate non-verbal language (eye contact and body movement) and pronunciation of medical terms and conditions. Request, confirm and clarify information in the medical and caregiving setting. Listen actively in order to perform competently in health care and caregiving environments. Adapt responses to speakers and contexts recognizing cultural and situational variables. Follow specific spoken directions to correctly accomplish tasks and procedures fundamental to care giving, first aid and CPR. Respond to requests for assistance and information about medications and care routine practices and record pertinent facts. Use active listening techniques and therapeutic communication skills including follow-up questions, and repeating information 10
back to the speaker. Demonstrate culturally sensitive listening and responding practices recognizing different interpretations of eye contact and listener-speaker space. Write so that others can understand in order to perform competently in health care and caregiving environments. Fill out forms related to patient/client care and employment applications using correct vocabulary. Write patient/client care notes using correct grammar, punctuation, and spelling (use a dictionary) demonstrating comprehension of allied heath information. Write a cover letter of introduction to accompany employment applications. Use word processing to compose and revise written material, compose memos, and participate in email communication. 13. Based upon your integrated program (student) learning outcomes, describe how professional-technical and basic skills faculty members will jointly create, plan, measure, and deliver: a. integrated learning experiences that support these outcomes, including curricula and instruction; AND b. integrated assessment processes and tools that inform a. The foundation of the integrated Fundamentals of Caregiving certificate program is that both the basic skills instructor and the FOC instructor are equals, each respecting the other s contribution and learning from him/her. The basic scheduling template supports integration of skills and smooth transition from activity to activity. The Basic Skills instructor will collaborate with the prof-tech instructor in designing textbook readings, assignments and discussions to ensure a strong application of reading, writing and math skills using the course context. The course will contain periods of direct instruction during which students will be applying their developing reading, writing and math skills in context through demonstration, simulations and role plays. An additional Basic 11
instruction and ensure opportunities for students to see progress toward meeting the integrated learning outcomes. Also include CASAS testing, reporting in WABERS, and appropriate professional-technical assessments. Skills support class will give students the opportunity to ask questions and to receive from their instructor targeted reinforcement of the most challenging material from the previous lesson(s) emphasizing underlying concepts, principles and vocabulary of the current targeted skill-set. Flexibility of the class structure will allow faculty to meet emerging student needs. Instructors will support each other in any way necessary, including getting and preparing materials, making sure students are on-task and responding to questions or requests. 14. Specifically describe how and when each I-BEST course within the program will provide a minimum of 50% overlap of instruction between professionaltechnical and basic skills faculty members so that readers can see where the overlap occurs. 15. Specifically describe how internal college partners have participated in the development of the I-BEST program, including financial aid, advising, counseling, registration, b. I-BEST Fundamentals of Caregiving students will be CASAS pre- and post-tested according to established CASAS guidelines to determine skills gains. In addition, students will complete application-based and written assignments as well as demonstrations. Instructors will engage students in selfassessment through individual interviews and through journal writing about their own growth in employability and technical skills. All integrated performance-based assessments will be analyzed and evaluated by both instructors to identify further instruction that would be helpful. The basic skills and caregiving instructors will teach collaboratively for 50% of the total instructional contact time during the course. Designed as lecture/lab, the lecture will be cotaught by both instructors. The Fundamentals of Caregiving instructor will demonstrate and observe student practice and work activities during the lab portion of the class, and the basic skills instructor will work individually with the students to ensure understanding of key concepts while they are engaged in lab activities. These concepts will be reinforced during the 6- credit Basic Skills Support class. Student services deans and staff members have been involved in ongoing discussions about I-BEST and their roles in ensuring the students success. Representatives from registration, advising/career, outreach, student development (Women s Programs), and financial aid have been identified to meet 12
general student services, etc. regularly with the I-BEST liaisons to proactively address and resolve issues related to student success. 13
I-BEST Enhanced FTE Application Signature Page Please submit original under separate cover upon approval of the I-BEST application. College: Green River Community College Program Title: Fundamentals of Caregiving I-BEST Proposed Start Date: Summer 2007 Signature: Workforce Administrator Basic Skills Administrator Other team members: Name Position Email Phone Number 14