Brooklyn Communities Collaborative (BCC) launched an Environmental Service Technician Training Pilot Program, a program that provides workplace training and employment opportunities for individuals who were affected by the justice system.
The pilot is the second workforce development program launched through BCC’s Advancing Healthcare Workforce Opportunities for Formerly Incarcerated Individuals (AOFI) program, according to a news release.
The first cohort of 18 certified community health workers graduated in January 2024, with more than 70% of participants securing employment in the healthcare sector to date.
"At BCC, we are committed to creating pathways to economic stability and career advancement through positions in health care,” said Shari Suchoff, executive director of Brooklyn Communities Collaborative. “The Environmental Service Technician Training Pilot offers a pathway to stable employment and long-term economic opportunity for Brooklynites affected by the justice system. By working directly with healthcare partners to identify staffing needs as well as with community members and training partners, we’re addressing staffing shortages and ensuring opportunities for program graduates.”
BCC is also partnering with STRIVE, a nonprofit specializing in job training and career development services, for the program’s training curriculum. Furthermore, BCC will work with Brooklyn healthcare institutions such as Maimonides Health and Downstate Health Sciences University to offer employment opportunities to program graduates.
Environmental Service Technicians fulfill general cleaning tasks crucial to maintaining hospital hygiene standards. Through the program, the participants will undergo a comprehensive training curriculum, including four weeks of career readiness, three weeks of occupational skills development, and three weeks of referral services and job placement assistance.
Upon completion of the training, participants will be equipped to take on various health care facilities roles. Soft skills training, such as resume writing and mock interviews, will also be provided to support participants' employment process. All program costs are covered by BCC, and participants receive a stipend of $1,000.
For more information about the BCC and Advancing Healthcare Workforce Opportunities for Formerly Incarcerated Individuals (AOFI), please visit https://brooklyncommunities.org.
