JANUARY 24, 2020

Learn about the LeadingAge Catalyst for January 2020: The Geriatrics Career Development Initiative at The New Jewish Home, New York, NY.

Excellence in Workforce Development “We really have to look at the ways our young people may be underserved, and put them in a place where they can be valued and [have] professional development. That’s the only way we can really solve our untrained workforce problem.” Those are the words of John Cruz, senior director for workforce initiatives at The New Jewish Home in New York City. Cruz and his staff run large and sophisticated programs that offer career training, life skills preparation, and support for high school students and for young adults who are no longer in school, but who face challenges and are looking for direction. The program’s primary purpose is to prepare participants to launch health care careers (especially in long-term services and supports). Because of its hands-on, person-centered focus, its participants often think of it as a supporting “family” helping them build careers and adult lives.

For the full article, visit https://www.leadingage.org/catalysts/january-2020-leadingage-catalyst.

The New Jewish Home’s SkillSpring program (formerly known as Geriatrics Career Development program) has helped teens and young adults in New York City pursue careers in health care since 2006. Program participants are immersed in long-term care settings and provide more than 8,000 hours of companionship and clinical care to older adults each year.

Alumni from our GCD programs have access to resources from our Workforce program to help them meet academic and career goals. Learn more about our high school program for teens and our young adult program.