The Next Generation of Healthcare Professionals
Since 2006, Geriatrics Career Development (GCD) of The New Jewish Home has supported New York City youth from under-resourced schools in pursuit of careers in health care. GCD is training the next generation of high-quality, culturally competent health care professionals while generating excitement and enthusiasm for career opportunities in health care serving older adults.
Youth participants are fully immersed into the long-term care setting and provide more than 8,000 hours of companionship, activities and clinical care to older adults each year. The comprehensive curriculum trains young people to appreciate and gain a deep respect for older adults.
OUR PROGRAMS
HEALTH CARE EXPLORERS (HCE) PROGRAM
(10th-12th grade, 14-19 years old)
HCE serves 225 students annually in its three-year high school program in Bronx housing and the Manhattan division. HCE provides college readiness, health career exploration activities, internships, professional/older adult mentors, and clinical training. Youth can graduate with as many as five allied healthcare certifications (e.g., Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), Patient Care Technician), allowing them to immediately seek employment and have supplementary income while attending college.
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
- 821 graduates since 2006
- 99% high school graduation rate
- 94% are currently employed and/or enrolled in or have completed post-secondary programs
- 84% obtain degrees
- 7 graduates enrolled in medical school
- 1 graduate enrolled in Ph.D. programs
- Over 330 internships awarded
- Graduating classes average $1,000,000 in scholarships/aid annually
WHAT HCE OFFERS TO HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
- Scholarships/Stipend for regularly attending participants
- Paid internship during senior year
- Free certification (Certified Nursing Assistant/Patient Care, Technician), SAT Prep, College Counseling/Trips, and Supper/Snack at each location
- Summer Program
- Academic Tutoring
- Professional development
- Mentors
- Skills training/Clinical Experience
Interested in joining the HCE Program?
Applications are now being accepted:
Sign up here >>
Roll-in applications are accepted based upon availability.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT OUR HEALTH CARE EXPLORERS PROGRAM:
Please reach out to Nicole Cash, GCD Director, HCE Program at ncash@jewishhome.org.
HCE 19-20 SURVEY RESULTS
Family (PDF)
Student (PDF)
HEALTH CARE EXPLORERS NEWSLETTER
February 2019 (PDF)
January 2019 (PDF)
December 2018 (PDF)
November 2018 (PDF)
HCE ANNUAL EVALUATION REPORT
2018 (PDF)
2019 (PDF)
2020 (PDF)
2021 (PDF)
YOUNG ADULT (YA) PROGRAM
(18-24 years old)
GCD’s Young Adult Program, was launched in 2014 to address the needs of young people who are out-of-school, unemployed, and faced with multiple barriers. This free three-month program engages, trains, and supports disconnected young adults ages 18-24 to begin meaningful career paths in geriatric healthcare.
Successful participants receive training to become either Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) or certified Home Health Aides (HHAs). Our on-site staff supports participants with case management and referral services. Additionally GCD’s Young Adult program provides on-boarding services, professional development training, one-on-one coaching, and paid internships, as well as no-cost CNA/HHA training and certification followed by an opportunity for employment at The New Jewish Home.
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
- 263 young adults have graduated from the GCD Young Adult program
- 76% have been hired by The New Jewish Home
- 54% are either enrolled in and/or have completed further education or training programs post-GCD
YA PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS BENEFIT FROM
- Hands-on clinical skills training
- Contextualized professional development
- Paid internship in a skilled nursing facility
- Daily MetroCards
- Allied healthcare training (CNA/HHA)
- One-on-one coaching
- Motivational professional speakers
- Long-term employment opportunity
- Transitional support for alumni
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Are you interested in a career in healthcare?
Are you an NYC resident between the ages of 18-24?
Are you out of school & unemployed?
If you answered “yes” to these questions, contact us at GCDAlumni@jewishhome.org
or apply here.
ALUMNI (WORKFORCE PROGRAM)
Both the Health Care Explorers and Young Adult Programs feed into GCD’s Alumni Program, which offers support to GCD Alumni in meeting their academic and career goals. Services include ongoing check-ins and tracking, career services, direct connections to professional opportunities at The New Jewish Home, and referrals to outside resources such as free trainings, and professional development programming. Individual sessions are also provided on request to resolve personal issues, to establish and support educational goals, and to support Alumni in marketing themselves and obtaining employment.
All GCD Alumni benefit from the following free services
- Resume and cover letter guidance
- Application assistance (work & college)
- Interview preparation
- References and recommendations
- Support with FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)
- Direct access to employment opportunities at The New Jewish Home
- Referrals to employment & educational opportunities
- One-on-one life/school/career-planning sessions
- Volunteer/internship/shadowing opportunities at The New Jewish Home
- Public speaking opportunities
- Network-building and mentoring
- Alumni events and workshops
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE ALUMNI PROGRAM:
Contact
GCDAlumni@jewishhome.org
Although I did not end up in the medical field, the GCD program paved a path for me, it gave me a direction to follow and the resources to use when following that direction. Most importantly, the program provided me with a lifelong family.
My advice to current GCD students would be to take advantage of the opportunities offered to you in GCD, college, etc. that will help better prepare you for your future career and engagements. Go out and volunteer, get a better understanding of what your interests are and indulge in activities that will help you grow as a better individual. Do not try to be like anyone else but yourself!”
I am thankful for being a part of the GCD program. This was the first time I started working with residents, volunteering on the floors and having an Elder Mentor. I used to always want to do something when I was on my floor, and tried my best to take initiative. A few years later, I now have the opportunity to work with the Elders and ensure they have the best care possible. The GCD Program showed me that dreams are possible, and it only takes time, dedication, and motivation.
My first teacher, seeing my academic potential, tutored me at her home. I excelled academically ever since. Ms. Villa died before I could thank her, supposedly due to a misdiagnosis. By then I had said I wanted to be a doctor; that took on new meaning after her funeral. I won’t be a doctor, for money, or for people to respect me- I will be one to help people stay alive.
I want to thank the GCD staff for advocating for me & believing in me when I didn’t even believe in myself. Ever since I started putting in an effort, doors have been opening for me. I have the confidence & communication skills to solve problems & work well with others, I have interview skills I need, & I have more experience. I never expected myself to work in the medical field- now I have goals of becoming a Registered Nurse, maybe even a Doctor.
It was such a privilege to be able to work as an Intern at The New Jewish Home. It was amazing; I was able to get along with the staff & the elderly people & interact with them. Now they feel like family to me. I’ve gained lots of experience & it warms my heart to be able to help others; this brings me joy. The staff members were great supporters when times were difficult for me & I wanted to quit & give up. They encouraged me to stay & were confident in me that I was able to complete the program. Even my co-workers whom I worked with saw this potential in me.
STUDENT: High School GCD (2016)
Jimmy Perpina
“Stay committed; this program will help you in the long run. My family is very proud.”
FUNDER: Pinkerton Foundation
Laurie Dien
“GCD is such a unique grantee of ours. It’s the most supportive and all-encompassing program. The outcomes get better every year.”
PARTNER: Stanley M. Isaacs Center
Gregory Morris
“The support is consistent and thoughtful so they get the coaching they need to be successful… I hope the GCD program, going forward, can influence other cities.”
RESIDENT: The New Jewish Home
Dominga M.
“The kids from GCD help us in many ways. They call me their mentor. I love them very much.”
GCD BLOG
Geriatrics Career Development Featured on CBS 2 News
CBS 2 News featured Francisca Fadairo, a remarkable high school senior in our Geriatrics Career Development Program (GCD). For the past 15 years, The New Jewish Home’s groundbreaking workforce development program has provided underserved high school students with allied health care certifications, college preparation, and invaluable experience caring for older adults. Instead of closing GCD when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, we actually hired our GCD participants so they could continue to receive hands-on training and gain firsthand experience working on the front lines as health care heroes.
A Motivated High School Senior Sets her Sights on a Nursing Career - Carmen dreamed of being a Broadway performer, not a health care professional. And then the Geriatrics Career Development Program changed her course. When she was a sophomore at DeWitt Clinton High School in the Bronx, Carmen’s guidance counselor talked to the whole class about a special internship opportunity at The New Jewish Home. The Geriatrics Career Development (GCD) Program is a workforce development program that exposes young people to health care careers, and Health Care Explorers (HCE) is the track… …Read More
Senator Gillibrand visits our Geriatrics Career Development (GCD) Program! - We were delighted to host Senator Kirsten Gillibrand at our Manhattan campus to meet with students and alumni of our Geriatrics Career Development (GCD) Program! We’re proud to serve hundreds of NYC youth each year. Expanding GCD would help even more young people throughout New York State and beyond pursue rewarding careers and help alleviate the health care workforce shortage. We sincerely thank Senator Gillibrand for taking the time to learn more about GCD and engage with our participants, staff and… …Read More
Offering a Unique Solution to a Growing Nursing Home Workforce Challenge - Since 2006, The New Jewish Home has trained underserved youth to create a workforce pipeline in long-term care. Learn more about our successful Geriatrics Career Development (GCD) program in this Skilled Nursing News article …Read More
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE GCD PROGRAM:
Contact John Cruz, Senior Director, Workforce Initiatives at (212) 870-4759 or jcruz@jewishhome.org.
(212) 870-4759
120 West 106th St,
New York, New York
(map view)
FUNDERS
The New Jewish Home and GCD are grateful for the funding provided by:
| Foundations | Government |
| The Achelis and Bodman Foundation Altman Foundation Phyllis Backer Foundation, Inc. David Berg Foundation The J.E. & Z.B. Butler Foundation Carl Marks Foundation The John P. & Constance A. Curran Charitable Foundation George Link Jr. Foundation, Inc. Hagedorn Fund Hyde and Watson Foundation Pinkerton Foundation Price Family Foundation Rudin Foundation Shippy Foundation UJA-Federation Teen Council |
Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer NYC Council Member Mark Levine NYC Speaker of the New York City Council Melissa Mark Viverito NYC HRA Work Progress Program NYS DOH Child Nutrition Reimbursement NYS Education Department 21st Century Community Learning Centers |