Asian Resources Inc. in January launched its Bridges to Healthcare project, a viable career pathway for ethnically diverse job seekers in Sacramento County.
This project is an expansion of a pilot program for certified nursing assistant and emergency medical technician training, funded by the California Endowment in 2006.
With a $300,000 grant from the California Wellness Foundation, Bridges to Healthcare is now a full program, with an expanded service area that includes the southern end of downtown Sacramento, Citrus Heights and Rancho Cordova.
Additional areas of study, such as licensed vocational nursing, medical assistant, medical billing and medical office assistant, also have been added.
Established in 1980, Asian Resources Inc. is a nonprofit, community-based organization. Its mission is to provide needed social services in disenfranchised communities and to empower community residents to become pro- active and to play a role in the changing communities of Sacramento.
ARI is committed to serving the limited English, low-income, youth and immigrant-refugee communities in Sacramento.
In 2005, ARI staff members conducted a survey among participants of a career development program. The staff members looked at the commonalities of these participants and the barriers they shared.
The top three barriers were work history, limited English proficiency and lack of education. As a solution, the staff members created a comprehensive career pathway into the health care industry.
ARI successfully piloted the Bridges to Healthcare Project in 2006, and 45 low-income students who spoke limited English enrolled and completed the certified nursing assistant or emergency medical technician course and have passed the tests.
To continue this project, ARI was awarded a three-year grant by the California Wellness Foundation in January of this year. The private foundation was created in 1992 with the mission of improving the health of California residents by making grants for the promotion of health, wellness education and disease prevention.
ARI officials have two primary objectives for the Bridges to Healthcare program. First, we hope to enroll 240 students into the program. Some 75 percent of these students will be multilingual and/or multicultural. Already 32 students have been enrolled. The second objective is to place 180 enrolled students into a health-related jobs.
Bridges to Healthcare is just one of the many programs of ARI. Originally founded in the heart of the Fruitridge area, ARI has offices in south Sacramento, Citrus Heights and downtown Sacramento. Each office is designed to provide programs and services that are unique to the needs of each community.
The south Sacramento office houses the organization's administrative offices, offers community services and a variety of programs, including adult and youth employment and training.
At the downtown location, ARI is the host agency for the Sacramento Works Broadway Career Center and operates a one-stop career center for job seekers who may seek a variety services ranging from résumé-building to driver's license reinstatement.
In Citrus Heights, ARI houses its refugee and youth development programs.
ARI's bilingual and culturally sensitive staff members offer a variety of community services and resources. The diverse staff members can read, write and speak more than 16 languages.
In 2007, ARI helped more than 15,000 Sacramento County residents. It provided naturalization services – application assistance and test preparation – as well as English and citizenship classes. ARI also facilitates financial literacy workshops in language for Southeast Asian community members.
Asian Resources Inc. is confident that its Bridges to Healthcare project will bridge the work force gap in the health care system and meet the challenges of the multicultural, diverse needs facing the health care industry.
DETAILS
Asian Resources, Inc.
• Administration
5709 Stockton Blvd.
Sacramento, CA 95824
(916) 454-1892
• Broadway Career Center
915 Broadway
Sacramento, CA 95818
(916) 324-6202
• Citrus Heights Career Center
7640 Greenback Lane
Citrus Heights, CA 95610
(916) 676-2540
Elaine A. Abelaye is executive director of Asian Resources Inc.
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