Background
Oregon has a serious shortage of trained healthcare personnel in several key areas. Needs related to education and training have been discussed over a period of 2-3 years in a variety of venues throughout the community colleges and healthcare industry.

In spring of 2002, the Department of Community Colleges and Workforce Development (CCWD) issued a report, Health Education and Training: What Community Colleges Can Do, that provided an orientation for individuals and groups concerned with the crisis. It identified problems in recruitment and retention, workplace conditions and regulatory issues, but primarily focused on the fact that the capacity of our healthcare education programs could not meet the current or projected demand.

By Spring 2002, the Oregon Workforce Investment Board (OWIB), through the Governor's Office of Education and Workforce Policy, had investigated the crisis and compiled its preliminary report on its Healthcare Employment Initiative entitled Health Care Sector Employment Initiative: Taking "AIMM" at a Growing Crisis. Concurrently, the Legislative Interim Task Force on Healthcare had also reviewed the shortages in the healthcare employment sector and issued its recommendations to the incoming legislature and governor.

Finally, in a commitment to work with industry partners to support and resource new and re-packaged programs and faculty, the Oregon Department of Community College and Workforce Development (CCWD) and the Oregon Association of Hospitals and Health Systems (OAHHS) became sustaining members of the Oregon Health Career Center (OHCC). This partnership brings industry and education together to find solutions and funding to expand capacity of and access to healthcare education.

OHCC is tasked with bringing the Community College Healthcare Action Plan (CCHAP) strategy to fruition.

To learn more about CCHAP activities, we welcome you to browse this site or contact us at cchap@ohcc.org.