HIP's 2022 Community Forum: Growing Our Own: Cultivating Health Career Pathways

Santa Cruz County: The Health Improvement Partnership of Santa Cruz County (HIP) invites our community to its 2022 Annual Community Forum, Growing our Own: Cultivating Health Career Pathways in Santa Cruz County The Forum will be held in person on Wednesday, September 14th, 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm at Monschke Hall, Twin Lakes Church. Register here.

HIP’s Annual Community Forum unites and engages the greater Santa Cruz County community in meaningful conversation about strategies for improving the healthcare workforce, focusing on fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion in healthcare workforce development. This event is in partnership with the Santa Cruz County Workforce Development Board.

Van Ton-Quinlivan, CEO of Futuro Health and author of WorkforceRx: Agile and Inclusive Strategies for Employers, Educators, and Workers in Unsettled Times will serve as keynote speaker. Van Ton-Quinlivan is a nationally recognized thinker and do-er in workforce development and a catalyst for inclusive economic mobility through higher education. Her distinguished career spans the public, private and nonprofit sectors. Formerly Executive Vice Chancellor of the California Community Colleges, Ton-Quinlivan’s work has been highlighted in the New York Times, Chronicle of Higher Education, Insider Higher Education, Stanford Social Innovation Review, U.S. News & World Report, and other publications. Additionally, Ton-Quinlivan is an appointee of Governor Newsom to the Health Workforce Education and Training Council responsible for coordinating California’s health workforce education and training to meet the state’s needs.

Local and state-wide experts will join Van Ton-Quinlivan in our community to share healthcare workforce data insights, updates on state funding in the health workforce, and innovative solutions to implement in our county. Guest speakers include Josh Williams, President at BW Research Partnership, Inc., and Laura Marcus, CEO of Dientes Dental Community Care, and a recorded presentation from Abby Snay, Deputy Secretary of the Future of Work with California Labor and Workforce Development Agency.

This year’s forum aims to re-energize our community partnerships to increase opportunities for Santa Cruz County residents to advance in health professions and align and expand education and training through pipeline programs, work-based learning, and continued professional development for incumbent workers. During the Forum, attendees will learn more about the 2022 Santa Cruz County State of the Workforce Report, state funding for the health workforce, proven workforce development strategies that stimulate diversity by making health education and health career opportunities more reachable, and local strategies being implemented in Santa Cruz County.

“Now is the time to focus our energy, conversations, and actions on nurturing Santa Cruz County’s healthcare workforce,” said Maritza Lara, Deputy Director & Health Strategist at HIP. “We hear from healthcare employers every day that workforce is a top priority. Recruiting, training, and retaining a diverse staff that can serve the community’s healthcare needs is a common goal. At HIP’s annual forum this year we’ll be discussing how to create pathways to well-paying jobs, that stabilize our healthcare system and serve to improve the health and wellbeing of the community. Join us!” says Elisa Orona, Executive Director at HIP.

We invite Santa Cruz County residents, healthcare students, and those working in health, education, business, and faith-based organizations, to join HIP staff, local policymakers, and our esteemed special guests to explore ways to address healthcare workforce development. Together, we will shape an equitable future where all Santa Cruz County residents can thrive!