The Health Care Critical Skills Shortage Initiative (CSSI) continues in the Northern Stateline region. As a result of the partnership with educational institutions and health care providers, 42 incumbent workers began nursing education programs in 2006. 

The region is receiving a $120,000 grant to fund the second phase of the program.

The Governor’s CSSI is a grassroots approach to strengthen the regional health care industry. A critical means to do this is to ensure a steady pipeline of qualified nurses to meet future demands in hospitals, clinics, and long-term care facilities across the region.

Local hospitals and clinics currently do not have the necessary talent pool of registered nurses and licensed practical nurses to meet demand, and, if these shortages are not addressed, they will only get worse as older workers retire. According to a government study, the projected increase in demand for trained nurses will reach 40% by the year 2020. At the same time, the Bureau of Health Professions sees only a 6% growth in the supply of available nurses.

Specifically, the efforts behind the CSSI grant will help address the nursing shortage through two key measures:
(1) Support career path progression for current health care workers by enrolling current Certified Nurse Assistants (CNA’S) into Associate Degree Registered Nurse programs; and
(2) A regional coordination initiative to connect Master’s-prepared nurses who are currently employed with regional health care providers with nursing programs needing qualified instructors. There is also an initiative to identify additional clinical sites interested in working with nursing students to increase training capacity.

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) is administering the CSSI efforts by combining knowledge and resources of countless partners throughout the Northern Stateline region, including:

Local Workforce Investment Boards: Boone and Winnebago Counties Workforce Investment Board and Northwest Illinois Workforce Investment Board.

Health care partners: Swedish American Hospital in Rockford, OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center in Rockford, Rochelle Community Hospital, Freeport Health Network, Rockford Health System, Rockford Regional Health Council, KSB Hospital in Dixon, CGH Hospital in Sterling, Kishwaukee Hospital in DeKalb.

Educational partners: Rock Valley College, Highland Community College, Kishwaukee College, Rockford College, Sauk Valley College, Saint Anthony College of Nursing, Northern Illinois University, and University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford.

For more information on this program, contact Pamela Fettes, Regional Health Care Coordinator at The Workforce Connection, 815-395-6673 or email pfettes@theworkforceconnection.org or contact the Human Resoruces office at any one of our Health Care partners.