As one of the largest not-for-profit health systems in the nation, Advocate Aurora Health prides itself on its unique and innovative approach to building, advocating for, and celebrating a diverse frontline workforce. An important example of this is the 3-times yearly NAVIGATE worker skills development and career pathways program, which provides incumbent workers with education, coaching and mentoring assistance, and tools and resources. So far, 54% of participating workers have identified a career pathway and 10% have moved up the career ladder with an average 24% increase in pay.
Advocate Aurora also leads by example through its work with community and industry, and regional development/economic development leaders through the Advocate-Aurora-led partners collaborative program. This program is dedicated to growing a pipeline of industry-qualified, workforce-ready candidates drawn from the un- and underemployed and under-served community at-large including minorities, job seekers with cognitive or physical difficulties, veterans, and formerly incarcerated, and LGBTQ. As part of its commitment to harness the power of diversity, Advocate Aurora’s leadership team created a system-level workforce development advisory council that merges several CareerSTAT best practices, including leadership program support and infrastructure development. Most recently, the council appointed a vice president whose responsibilities link both program oversight and human resources leadership.
