Page 31 - The Indian EYE 052226

NORTH AMERICAN Newsline MAY 22, 2026 | The Indian Eye 31

NYC Health + Hospitals Launches

“Care Corps” to Build Behavioral Health

Workforce Through Paid Training Program

OUR BUREAU
New York, NY
s part of Mental Health Aware-
ness Month, NYC Health +
AHospitals and Project Renew-
al have announced the expansion of
Care Corps, a workforce develop-
ment initiative designed to train New
Yorkers facing significant barriers to
employment for entry-level roles in
behavioral health care.
The $2 million program aims to
address persistent staffing shortages
in the city’s public behavioral health
system while creating structured ca-
reer pathways for residents historical-
ly excluded from stable employment
opportunities. Since its pilot launch
last year, 45 participants have gradu- ing, and patient escorts. Salaries begin tor of Nursing Simulation in the Office pathy—qualities considered essential
ated from the program, with 78%—or at approximately $50,000 annually, of Patient Centered Care, said the pro- in behavioral health care environments.
35 individuals—securing employment with full union representation and gram is designed to connect workforce Project Renewal, a key program
at NYC Health + Hospitals or other medical benefits. development with quality patient care. partner, provides classroom instruc-
health systems across the city. Officials say the program is specif- “Care Corps embodies this commit- tion and participant support services.
Officials say the initiative will con- ically designed to lower barriers to en- ment by providing individuals with a Jaime Madden, Chief Operating Of-
tinue training new cohorts through try while maintaining high standards pathway to acquire valuable skills and ficer, said the program demonstrates
2026, with potential expansion de- of clinical preparedness through sim- join the behavioral health workforce,” the value of combining workforce de-
pending on workforce demand across ulation-based learning and structured she said. velopment with social impact. “Stable
the city’s mental health facilities. mentorship. Dr. Michael Meguerdichian, employment can be transformative,
Care Corps is structured as a six- “Our workforce is the backbone Chief System Medical Simulation Of- and lived experience is a powerful as-
week paid training pipeline. Partic- of the City’s health care system,” ficer at IMSAL, said the collaboration set in behavioral health care,” she said.
ipants first complete three weeks of said Sophie Pauze, Senior Director helps participants build both technical “Care Corps is helping New Yorkers
classroom instruction at Project Re- of Strategy & Impact in the Office of skills and situational awareness. “This turn barriers into career pathways.”
newal, followed by a three-week su- Behavioral Health at NYC Health program allows community members The program is part of a broad-
pervised internship at NYC Health + + Hospitals. “Care Corps expands to understand the job they are applying er workforce expansion strategy at
Hospitals’ Institute for Medical Sim- opportunities for New Yorkers to en- for and develop the skills they need to NYC Health + Hospitals, which
ulation and Advanced Learning (IM- ter the behavioral health workforce succeed when faced with the challeng- operates the largest behavioral
SAL). During the internship, trainees through a supported pathway into an es of behavioral health units,” he said. health system in New York City.
engage in simulated hospital scenarios essential nursing support role with sig- Program designers emphasize the The system provides nearly 60%
using trained actors to replicate re- nificant opportunities for growth and importance of experiential learning. of the city’s behavioral health ser-
al-world behavioral health situations. career advancement.” Dana Trottier, Director of the Fellow- vices and treats more than 82,000
Unlike traditional unpaid training She added that the initiative re- ship in Healthcare Simulation, said the patients annually across inpatient,
models, participants are compensated flects a broader commitment to build- curriculum is structured to replicate the outpatient, and emergency settings.
based on training hours completed ing a more inclusive public health full cycle of inpatient psychiatric care. Officials say Care Corps comple-
during their internship, a design in- workforce that reflects the communi- “What makes Care Corps unique ments several other initiatives aimed
tended to mirror real employment ties it serves. is that we don’t just teach skills — we at strengthening the behavioral health
conditions and build professional ac- At the core of the program is sim- create an immersive learning expe- workforce pipeline. These include the
countability. ulation-based training, which takes rience,” she said. “Trainees develop Behavioral Health Nursing Career
Upon completion, graduates place at IMSAL, where participants therapeutic relationships, practice Ladder, which supports staff in ad-
qualify for positions as Psychiatric practice responding to behavioral crisis response, and build emotional vancing to nursing roles; psychiatric
Social Health Technicians. These health scenarios in a controlled, immer- resilience in a psychologically safe en- nurse practitioner fellowships; physi-
entry-level roles support behavioral sive environment. According to system vironment before entering real clinical cian assistant behavioral health train-
health nursing staff in inpatient psy- officials, this approach allows trainees settings.” ing rotations; and the NextGen Public
chiatric units, assisting with patient ac- to rehearse high-stress clinical inter- She added that continuity of simu- Psychiatry Leadership Program for
tivities of daily living, wellness checks, actions before entering hospital units. lation exercises helps participants build residents pursuing public sector psy-
observation duties, hallway monitor- Kimberly Campbell-Taylor, Direc- confidence, professionalism, and em- chiatry careers.

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