National Fund for Workforce Solutions Announces 2023 Frontline Healthcare Worker Champions

12.13.23  •  by Josh Enoch  •   Press Release

Peer recognition program highlights healthcare systems dedicated to building equitable, inclusive workplaces through worker-centered workforce development programs.  

Washington D.C. December 13, 2023 — The National Fund for Workforce Solutions is proud to announce the 2023 winners of its CareerSTAT Frontline Healthcare Workers Champions awards. The program recognizes organizations that create good jobs and build equitable workplaces by making significant investments in frontline workers. This year’s awardees are:

Champions 

  • Atrium Health – Charlotte,  NC
  • Baystate Health – Springfield, MA 
  • Boston Children’s Hospital – Boston, MA 
  • Loretto – Syracuse, NY 
  • Trinity Health Michigan – Livonia, MI 
  • The University of Vermont Health Network – Burlington, VT 

Emerging Champions 

  • Ascension St. Vincent – Indianapolis, IN 
  • Union Health Center – New York, NY 

“We are excited for the return of our signature employer recognition program,” said Amanda Cage, president and CEO of the National Fund for Workforce Solutions. “As we strive to tackle structural racial inequities that have held many individuals back, we are proud to recognize healthcare organizations whose work reflects our vision of ensuring that all workers have the resources they need to thrive, that race does not dictate employment outcomes, and that all jobs are good jobs.”

Champions create a worker-centered culture of learning and leverage their influence to create organizational and regional change where employers, workers, and communities thrive. Honorees are selected for using workforce development strategies that promote racial equity and inclusion, accessible training and skills development opportunities, and frontline career progression. Organizations chosen as Emerging Champions demonstrate a similar commitment but are earlier in their journey to build equitable and inclusive workplaces for frontline workers.

Four of this year’s honorees — Baystate Health, Boston Children’s Hospital, Loretto, and Trinity Health Michigan — were previously recognized as Emerging Champions. Their elevation to Champion status is a testament to their sustained commitment to improving job quality.

“I was honored to participate in the selection process to help relaunch the Champion program,” said Anita Hammond, manager, workforce development at LifeBridge Health, 2014 Champion and member of the CareerSTAT executive committee. “This year’s honorees represent the great strides our field is making toward equitably investing in the frontline workforce and I enjoyed learning about the innovative work of each organization.”

CareerSTAT is a healthcare sector strategy of the National Fund rooted in the power of peer-learning. The peer-led recognition program, which seeks to share workforce development innovation and accelerate the adoption of best practices, is core to the National Fund’s mission. CareerSTAT and the Frontline Healthcare Worker Champions program are made possible through generous support from MetLife Foundation and the World Education Services (WES) Mariam Assefa Fund.

“The WES Mariam Assefa Fund congratulates this year’s awardees for their commitment to creating more worker-centered, equitable workplaces. As a funder focused on supporting economic inclusion for immigrants and refugees, who make up a large part of our healthcare workforce, we are excited to support the National Fund’s CareerSTAT program and to see healthcare employers supporting access to quality jobs for their frontline workforce,” said Lauren Crain, director of U.S. programs and strategy at the WES Mariam Assefa Fund.

Champions will be highlighted throughout the upcoming year, culminating in an awards ceremony honoring recognized organizations at the National Fund’s biennial convening, SHIFT Toward and Equitable Future in Memphis TN, September 24-26, 2024.

### 

About National Fund for Workforce Solutions 

The National Fund for Workforce Solutions envisions an equitable future where all workers have the resources required to thrive, race does not dictate employment outcomes, and all jobs are good jobs. We are a recognized leader in establishing and scaling effective strategies that foster racial equity in the workforce to help communities thrive. Our dynamic national network is comprised of more than 30 regional workforce collaboratives that convene cross-sector stakeholders and align resources toward collective action for greater impact. Our four solutions — activating employers to make jobs better, equipping workers for success, changing systems for improved outcomes, and co-investing for impact — are how we work to achieve our goals. Learn more at www.NationalFund.org.