Workgroups, Subcommittees, and Projects

Coming together to solve Rhode Island's health workforce crisis

Healthcare workforce shortages are affecting every state in the country, and they won’t be solved overnight. But that is not stopping the more than 125 healthcare providers, educators, policymakers, advocates, and others who have been meeting regularly to develop solutions to Rhode Island’s health workforce challenges.

Starting with the Health Workforce Summit, which was co-hosted by EOHHS, DLT, OPC, and the RI Foundation this past April, an energized group of partners from across RI’s health and education system have joined the following Workgroups to address critical health systems and workforce priorities.

1. Health Career Pathways and Pipelines

Purpose: To ensure a sufficient supply of health and human services workers by providing students, job seekers, and incumbent workers with the knowledge, skills, and resources needed to obtain employment and advance in their careers.

Executive Sponsor: Matt Weldon, Director, RI Department of Labor & Training

Co-facilitators: Alyssa Alvarado, Governor’s Workforce Board and Howard Dulude, Hospital Association of RI

Workgroup meetings

  • Wednesday, June 22 - Presentation, Meeting Minutes
  • Wednesday, July 27 - Agenda, Reference Materials, Presentation, Meeting Minutes
  • Tuesday, August 30 - Agenda, Current Projects Career Pathways Overview
  • Tuesday, September 27, 2:00 - 3:30 PM @ RI Executive Office of Health & Human Services – Virks First Floor Conference Room, 3 West Road, Cranston
  • Wednesday, October 26, 2:00 - 3:30 PM @ RI Executive Office of Health & Human Services – Virks First Floor Conference Room, 3 West Road, Cranston
  • Tuesday, November 29, 2:00 - 3:30 PM @ RI Executive Office of Health & Human Services – Virks First Floor Conference Room, 3 West Road, Cranston
  • Wednesday, December 28, 2:00 - 3:30 PM @ RI Executive Office of Health & Human Services – Virks First Floor Conference Room, 3 West Road, Cranston

2. Health Workforce Data Collection & Analytics

Purpose: To identify, align, and develop resources needed for Rhode Island to collect and analyze current workforce supply, projected workforce demand, and effective workforce support programming across all occupations, specializations, education levels (including lived experience), sectors, geography, etc. – with a particular focus on racial, ethnic, linguistic, and cultural diversity. This work will ensure that providers and patients/clients have the supported and well-compensated health and human service workforce needed to provide accessible, high-quality health and human services.

Executive Sponsor: Ana Novais, Secretary, RI Executive Office of Health & Human Services (EOHHS)

Co-facilitators: Marti Rosenberg, RI EOHHS and Larry Warner, VP, United Way of RI; Chair, Commission for Health Advocacy & Equity

Workgroup meetings

  • Thursday, June 23 - Agenda, Meeting Minutes
  • Wednesday, July 20 - Agenda, Reference Materials, Meeting Minutes
  • Wednesday, August 24 - Agenda, Reference Materials Meeting Minutes
  • Friday, September 23, 9:30AM – 11:00AM @ United Way of RI, 50 Valley Street, Providence - Agenda
  • Wednesday, October 19, 9:30AM – 11:00AM @ United Way of RI, 50 Valley Street, Providence
  • Wednesday, November 16, 9:30AM – 11:00AM @ United Way of RI, 50 Valley Street, Providence
  • Wednesday, December 21, 9:30AM – 11:00AM @ United Way of RI, 50 Valley Street, Providence

3. Health & Human Services Partnerships with Higher Education

Purpose: To build engaged and enduring partnerships across and among Institutions of Higher Education and health & human service providers to anticipate and address the training and education needs of health and human services agencies and staff.

Executive Sponsor: Shannon Gilkey, Commissioner, RI Office of the Postsecondary Commissioner

Co-facilitators: Amy Grzybowski, RIOPC and Sandra Victorino, Care New England, Commission for Health Advocacy & Equity

Workgroup meetings:

  • Tuesday, June 28 - Agenda, Meeting Minutes
  • Tuesday, July 19 - Agenda, Reference Materials, Meeting Minutes
  • Tuesday, August 16 - Agenda, Reference Materials, Meeting Minutes
  • Tuesday, September 20, 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM @ Virtual Meeting via Teams - Meeting Slide Deck
  • Tuesday, October 18, 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM @ RI Nursing Education Center, Room 306, 350 Eddy St., Providence *
  • Tuesday, November 15, 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM @ RI Nursing Education Center, Room 306, 350 Eddy St., Providence *
  • Tuesday, December 13, 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM @ RI Nursing Education Center, Room 306, 350 Eddy St., Providence *

   * Parking in the South Street Landing Garage at 330 Eddy St. will be validated

Initiatives

Each of the above Workgroups has begun to develop short-term and longer-term initiatives to increase the supply, diversity, and support for the healthcare workforce, including:

  • Strengthen industry and higher education partnerships with Career & Tech programs
  • Increase awareness of loan repayment programs
  • Eliminate delays in CNA testing and licensure
  • Expand clinical placement opportunities for students
  • Create career ladders to support advancement from entry-level occupations
  • Organize a career development fair
  • Analyze licensure data to better understand workforce gaps
  • Assist foreign-trained health professionals to obtain RI licensure
  • Create online resources for health workforce training, education, jobs, and data

If you would like to be part of any of these efforts, just send us an email.