Healthcare

Samantha worked a series of minimum-wage jobs, including her role as a shift lead at Denny’s. For nearly two decades, she found herself trapped in a cycle of low-paying jobs with little opportunity for advancement. After being released from custody, Samantha was on probation, and her criminal record frequently hindered her ability to find meaningful employ.

Dawn Renae Rasmussen’s journey in healthcare administration has been one marked by dedication, hard work, and a relentless pursuit of growth. As she navigated through a changing industry, she found the need to take a step further in her career and enrolled in the San Diego Workforce Partnership’s (SDWP’s) Healthcare Administration Pathways program. Through the program, she began studying the healthcare revenue cycle through UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies.

In October 2023, our Community Health Worker program became our second federally-registered apprenticeship program, after Substance Use Counselor Training. Historically, apprenticeships were typically available to those interested in the building or technical trades. Creating apprenticeship pathways in healthcare and behavioral health will help San Diego meet its behavioral worker shortage of 18,500 workers and the State’s goal of 500,000 registered apprentices by 2029.

26-year-old Jessica Osorio is one of the first graduates of the Healthcare Administration Pathways program, a three-month accelerated training towards a specialized certificate in the healthcare revenue cycle. After three years of staying home to care for her two kids,

Interfaith Community Services provides people experiencing ongoing hardships with personalized care and supportive services to improve their lives. Interfaith was recently named the first Center of Excellence for San Diego County and is partnering with the San Diego Workforce Partnership to train Substance Use Disorder counselors, peer support specialists and entry-level case managers.

The JPMorgan Chase Foundation has awarded the San Diego Workforce Partnership with a $400,000 grant to pilot programs that provide underrepresented and low-income workers with support in launching meaningful careers in the healthcare industry.

According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, the number of adults in the U.S. reporting symptoms of anxiety or depressive disorder increased four-fold from 2019 to January 2021. In response, the San Diego Workforce Partnership is launching this new program to address the increased demand for public mental health services and prepare San Diegans for careers in an industry with high growth potential.