GREENFIELD — Through three grant-backed initiatives, Greenfield Community College is working to expand programs to train future healthcare workers.
The college recently announced it has been awarded $100,000 to launch a Behavioral Health Apprenticeship Degree Program, $97,459 to support certified nursing assistant and phlebotomy training, and the second half of a two-year Blue Cross Blue Shield grant to continue training certified professional midwife programs.
Behavioral health apprenticeship
With the support of a $100,000 Accelerate The Future grant, GCC will be creating a new Behavioral Health Apprenticeship Degree Program that will open to students in the fall 2027 semester and allow them to work toward an associate degree in human services.
This is a two-year grant, and over the next year, faculty will work with members of the college’s workforce development program to plan curriculum and foster relationships with partner agencies that could serve as mentors for students in the program.
“We’re in the first year of planning, so we’re at the very beginning,” Amy Ford, a professor of human services at GCC, said. “We’re having conversations and bringing people to the table that we think should be at the table.”
The initiative is designed for both those looking to enter the field, as well as those already working in behavioral health seeking to advance their education. The program will combine classroom instruction with paid, on-the-job learning and mentorship through partnerships with behavioral health employers in the region.
Ford explained that the program is part of a growing statewide initiative to create apprenticeship-model programs, letting students earn wages and gain on-the-job experience while completing their education.
She added that creating a program focusing on behavioral health has long been a goal of the human services faculty at GCC, and the behavioral health apprenticeship will build upon other programs at the college. In 2016, the college launched a 29-credit Addiction Studies certificate program.
“We have a long-standing human services department… there’s always been a robust interest in the helping fields,” Ford said. “The behavioral health piece has always been on the table and on our radar.”
While the college is still planning out what courses will be required as part of the apprenticeship program, Ford said that addiction would be the main focus. The college will also be working with partner agencies to learn more about what traits and skills students will need to learn to be successful in the field.
“There’s a need for behavioral health workers,” Ford said. “This will create a path for entry into this field.”
Nursing workforce development
The college was awarded $97,459 through the Training Resources and Internships Network (TRAIN) grant program to support certified nursing assistant and phlebotomy training.
In a written statement, state education and workforce development officials said that the grant program would support industry-specific workforce development training programs at community colleges across the state
“By expanding access to job training and employment, Massachusetts is creating more pathways for adult learners to pursue meaningful careers while building the skilled workforce for employers to grow and compete,” Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Lauren Jones said. “TRAIN grants reflect our continued commitment to preparing untapped talent with skills and credentials and strengthening talent pipelines for employers in regions and communities across the state.”
“Massachusetts community colleges are essential partners in creating pathways to economic mobility and ensuring that students have the skills they need to succeed in a rapidly evolving workforce,” Interim Commissioner of Higher Education José Luis Santos said. “Through the TRAIN grant program, we are expanding access to high-quality, industry-aligned training while providing the support adult learners need to overcome barriers and pursue meaningful careers. These investments strengthen our communities, support regional workforce needs, and create new opportunities for individuals and families across the state.”
GCC’s phlebotomy certification course runs for eight weeks and teaches students about infection control, the circulatory system, blood collection procedures and more.
Midwife training
GCC was also recently awarded the second part of a two-year grant from the Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation’s Perinatal Health Initiative to continue developing a certified professional midwife program.
Last year, the college received $110,000 for the program, which Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation President and CEO Kaitlyn Kenney Walsh said is aimed at reducing disparities in perinatal health outcomes.
“In year one, our grant partners launched their programs and tested new approaches to increase access to perinatal services,” Kenney Walsh said. “At a time of growing focus on how we can improve perinatal health and address longstanding gaps in care, this second year gives these organizations the opportunity to build on that progress by reaching more families and broadening the services available so that they can have a lasting impact.”
The college’s Workforce Development Department had already been offering some classes focused on midwifery, such as “Pharmacology for Midwives,” “Emergency Maneuvers for Childbirth,” and “The Business of Midwifery,” and more, and is currently working to take those classes and build them into a Midwife Bridge Certificate.
