ChristianaCare and JPMorgan Chase & Co. Partner to Build Health Care Career Opportunities for Delaware Teens
Training program and paid internships will set young people on a path to meaningful jobs and financial stability
ChristianaCare has received a $100,000 grant from JPMorgan Chase & Co. to launch a youth employment program to build a more diverse and inclusive health care workforce.
“At ChristianaCare, we embrace diversity and show respect to everyone,” said Dia Williams Adams, MPA, vice president of Philanthropy at ChristianaCare. “Providing exposure to health care careers at an early age and building pipelines to employment are key components to building strong and healthy communities.
“We are deeply grateful to JPMorgan Chase for its generosity and commitment to inclusion and diversity and we want to extend a special thanks to JPMorgan Chase Vice President–Program Officer Jac Rivers for her support of this important initiative.”
Health Impacts will connect youth ages 16 to 18 from low-to-moderate income households in Greater Wilmington to career opportunities in health care.
The program, Health Impacts, is a year-long pilot program designed to connect youth ages 16 to 18 from low-to-moderate income households within the Greater Wilmington area to career opportunities in health care.
Health Impacts will include an intensive training program: Teens will learn from ChristianaCare health professionals about workforce development skills and the characteristics essential for career success.
The training program will be followed by a nine-month paid internship that culminates with employment opportunities at ChristianaCare.
During the internship the teens will receive additional career coaching and participate in work-based learning assignments to help them develop skills, such as effective interviewing, relationship-building and a strong work ethic.
“There are fantastic opportunities in health care today that can match up with a wide variety of interests and provide young people with a career path that offers financial stability and growth – plus the personal rewards of doing work that helps others,” said Kamela Smith, M.Ed., manager of Community Education and Engagement at ChristianaCare.
“This program is an exciting opportunity to expand our local health care workforce while inspiring young people in our community to be the next generation of caregivers.”
JPMorgan Chase’s support of Health Impacts is part of a $30 billion Racial Equity Commitment by the global financial services provider to help close the racial wealth gap and advance economic inclusion among communities that are underserved in the U.S.
“As one of Delaware’s largest employers, we are incredibly focused on creating a more equitable and inclusive economy for more residents across the region,” Rivers said.
“Building a skilled workforce and ensuring that all people, regardless of background, have access to the support they need is critical to these efforts.
“Together with a dynamic community partner like ChristianaCare, and the launch of their new Summer Youth Employment Program in Wilmington, we can truly help unlock opportunity for more Delaware residents to access meaningful jobs and lasting economic growth.”
