English Health English Health TrainTrain

Bridges to Opportunity:Bridges to Opportunity: Workforce Development for English Workforce Development for English

Language LearnersLanguage Learners

October, 2006October, 2006

San Francisco Welcome Back San Francisco Welcome Back CenterCenter

International Health Workers International Health Workers Assistance CentersAssistance Centers

A program of Community Health Works of A program of Community Health Works of San Francisco, a partnership of CCSF & SFSUSan Francisco, a partnership of CCSF & SFSU

EHT project funded by The California Endowment, EHT project funded by The California Endowment, The California Wellness Foundation, and Kaiser The California Wellness Foundation, and Kaiser

PermanentePermanente

Mission StatementMission Statement

To build a bridge between To build a bridge between the need for linguistically the need for linguistically and culturally competent and culturally competent

health services in health services in underserved underserved

communities and the communities and the pool of internationally pool of internationally trained health experts trained health experts

living in California.living in California.

Identified BarriersIdentified Barriers

Participant levelParticipant levelEnglish language proficiencyEnglish language proficiencyLoss of professional identityLoss of professional identityEconomic issuesEconomic issuesLack of familiarity w/ U.S. health systemLack of familiarity w/ U.S. health system

Structural levelStructural levelComplexity of licensing processesComplexity of licensing processesDe-value of foreign credentialsDe-value of foreign credentialsProfessional associations’ reservationsProfessional associations’ reservations

Profile of Target LearnersProfile of Target Learners

Diverse languages and culturesDiverse languages and cultures

Length of time in U.S. varies greatlyLength of time in U.S. varies greatly

Majority trained as doctors, nurses, Majority trained as doctors, nurses, dentistsdentists

Lack of clarity about career goals in Lack of clarity about career goals in

U.S.U.S.

Completed variety of ESL classesCompleted variety of ESL classes

The Pilot ProgramThe Pilot Program

One year, 360 hrs.One year, 360 hrs.

Three coursesThree courses

Core groupCore group

Diverse FTHPsDiverse FTHPs

Low intermediate ESLLow intermediate ESL

Rigorous evaluationRigorous evaluation

Profile of Pilot ParticipantsProfile of Pilot Participants

13 countries13 countries

7 languages7 languages

8 health professions8 health professions

2 mos. > 10 yrs. in U.S.2 mos. > 10 yrs. in U.S.

75%75% females, females, 25%25% males males

different obstacles, goals,different obstacles, goals, & levels of confidence& levels of confidence

Sources of ContentSources of Content

Health care professionalsHealth care professionals

Health care texts & journalsHealth care texts & journals

Authentic materialsAuthentic materials

Current mediaCurrent media

Internet sitesInternet sites

Materials DesignMaterials Design

ModulesModules

Exploring Career Goals in Health Care

Exploring Career Goals in Health Care

Communicatingwith Patients and

Families

Communicatingwith Patients and

Families

Communicatingwith other

Health Workers

Communicatingwith other

Health Workers

Exploring CriticalIssues in Health

Care

Exploring CriticalIssues in Health

Care

Intercultural Communication in

Health Care

Intercultural Communication in

Health Care

Module 1Module 1

Career Paths in HealthCareer Paths in Health

Job Search StrategiesJob Search Strategies

Workplace Expectations Workplace Expectations

Professional Professional

DevelopmentDevelopment

Exploring CareerGoals in Health Care

Module 2Module 2

The Patient-Health Professional The Patient-Health Professional RelationshipRelationship

Patient-Centered InterviewsPatient-Centered Interviews

Communicating with At-Risk Communicating with At-Risk

Patients Patients

Handling Challenging SituationsHandling Challenging Situations

Communicatingwith Patientsand Families

Module 3Module 3

Assertive Communication with Assertive Communication with Co-WorkersCo-Workers

Working on a Health Care TeamWorking on a Health Care Team

Telephone & Email Telephone & Email

Communication Communication

Instructing & Supervising other Instructing & Supervising other

Health ProfessionalsHealth Professionals

Communicatingwith other Health

Professionals

Module 4Module 4

Understanding U.S. Health Care Understanding U.S. Health Care Systems & IssuesSystems & Issues

Alternative Health PerspectivesAlternative Health Perspectives

Caring for an Aging Population Caring for an Aging Population

Legal & Ethical Issues in HealthLegal & Ethical Issues in Health

ExploringCritical Issuesin Health Care

Module 5Module 5

Beliefs & Traditions about Health Beliefs & Traditions about Health and Illnessand Illness

Cultural Diversity in Health CareCultural Diversity in Health Care

Racial & Ethnic Health Disparities Racial & Ethnic Health Disparities

Exploring the Needs of our Exploring the Needs of our

CommunitiesCommunities

InterculturalCommunicationin Health Care

Course ComponentsCourse Components

Student materialsStudent materials (5 (5

modules/40 units)modules/40 units)

Teacher guidesTeacher guides (5 modules/40 units)(5 modules/40 units)

Listening CDListening CD (by module/unit)(by module/unit)

Project WorkbookProject Workbook (w/ online (w/ online

activities)activities)

Assessment toolsAssessment tools

Course OptionsCourse Options

One-year programOne-year program

Two coursesTwo courses

One courseOne course

Series of workshopsSeries of workshops

One-day workshopOne-day workshop

Evaluating the CoursesEvaluating the Courses

Feedback from participantsFeedback from participants

Feedback from instructorsFeedback from instructors

Review by ESL expertsReview by ESL experts

Review by Advisory CommitteeReview by Advisory Committee

Achievement of objectivesAchievement of objectives

Final Results of PilotFinal Results of Pilot

Level 1Level 1

Level 2Level 2

Level 3Level 3

97% satisfaction97% satisfaction

Oral assessment: Oral assessment: average 55% gainaverage 55% gain Written assessment: Written assessment: average 98% gainaverage 98% gain

(Unintended (Unintended outcomes)outcomes)

Unintended OutcomesUnintended Outcomes

11%11% took and passed took and passed licensing examslicensing exams

22%22% enrolled in health enrolled in health programsprograms

28%28% got jobs in health got jobs in health carecare

Formed communityFormed community of supportof support

Gained confidence toGained confidence to achieve goalsachieve goals

……I improved my English, I learned a I improved my English, I learned a lot about the health care lot about the health care workplace, but above all, I workplace, but above all, I regained self-confidence.regained self-confidence.

……Now I know what I want to do. I Now I know what I want to do. I have no doubt I can work in this have no doubt I can work in this country, pursue my education country, pursue my education and be successful.and be successful.

……We come from different countries We come from different countries and cultures, but we all have the and cultures, but we all have the same goals: to work in the health same goals: to work in the health care field, serve the whole care field, serve the whole community with our skills…and community with our skills…and gain personal satisfaction.gain personal satisfaction.

San FranciscoWelcome Back CenterSan FranciscoWelcome Back Center

1860 Hayes Street1860 Hayes StreetSan Francisco, CA 94117San Francisco, CA 94117

(415) 561-1833(415) 561-1833aechever@ccsf.eduaechever@ccsf.edu

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