Description of Services

Overview

Welcome Back Centers provide orientation, educational counseling, and support to internationally trained health professionals in a variety of ways. Through educational case management services, educational interventions, group activities, and referrals, the center assists these individuals in meeting their career goals in the U.S. For example, one critical strategy the centers use is helping participants develop a career pathway plan that builds on their healthcare background and experiences. In the process of receiving support in obtaining the appropriate professional credentials and licenses for their health professions, Welcome Back participants are also presented with other viable options or alternatives to consider.

All immigrant health professionals – whether nurses, doctors, dentists, pharmacists, physical therapists, psychiatrists, social workers, midwives, or laboratory technicians – who currently live in the geographic area served by a center are eligible for the free services. These services are normally provided in at least two languages, e.g. English and Spanish; whenever feasible, interpreters are used for speakers of other languages.

Initial Contact

This is the first contact with a potential participant, as well as the screening component of the program. The initial contact may be on the phone or face-to-face with front desk staff or an educational case manager. Information collected is entered into the database if the participant is eligible for the program. At this phase, the center collects basic personal information about the participant, as well as his or her educational and professional history. In addition, an appointment is made for an assessment meeting.

Assessment

Educational case managers meet individually with participants to assess their educational and professional experience in their countries of origin, and compare this with the standards for their health professions in the U.S. In addition, an assessment of participants’ professional goals, the steps they have taken to accomplish these goals, and the barriers they have encountered is also carried out at this phase.

In the assessment process, the educational case manager gathers information about a participant in the following areas: post-high-school education, professional experience in the country of origin, certificates or degrees obtained in the U.S., work history in the U.S., English language proficiency level, psychosocial factors, reason for immigration, and motivation level. This initial assessment normally lasts approximately 1 ½ to 2 hours.

Educational Case Management

Educational case managers assist participants as they pursue their goals in becoming licensed in their health profession, search for meaningful employment in the health sector, and possibly, explore an alternative career. In the process, educational case managers refer participants to appropriate educational and professional resources, as needed.

Based on the results of the initial assessment, the educational case manager develops a career pathway plan with the participant that builds on his or her education, skills, and experience. The educational case manager also provides the participant with an orientation to relevant licensing procedures and support for obtaining appropriate professional credentials and licenses.

Taking into account the participant’s educational background and work experience both outside and within the U.S., the educational case manager provides counseling about potential job opportunities and alternative careers in the health sector. The educational case manager and participant will determine how often to meet (weekly, monthly, or quarterly). At a minimum, they meet every six months until participants exit the program.

In the follow-up meetings, educational case managers provide assistance in a variety of areas, as needed, including:


  • Procuring and filling out forms required for licensing agencies
  • Applying for validation of credentials
  • Researching schools that provide programs for different health professions
  • Applying for relevant programs at community colleges or universities
  • Applying for financial aid
  • Identifying work and volunteer opportunities in the health sector that match a participant’s career goals
  • Re-assessing and adjusting career pathway plan, as needed
Educational Interventions

Welcome Back Centers develop courses and workshops that address key barriers affecting foreign-trained health professionals, such as a lack of familiarity with the U.S. health care system and limited English language proficiency. Examples of such educational interventions are the following:


  • Introduction to the U.S. Health Care System
  • Organization of Health Services
  • Public Health and Safety
  • Health Professions and Practice
  • Residency Training in the U.S. for International Medical Graduates
  • Contemporary Health Care Issues
  • Leadership in Health
  • English for Health Professionals

Educational case managers help link participants with appropriate community college and university programs for different health careers, including the respective counseling and financial aid offices.

Group Activities

Welcome Back plans various group activities to further expose participants to educational and career opportunities, as well as to bring immigrant health professionals with similar backgrounds together. Such activities have included a Health Career Job Fair to familiarize participants with health career programs at local community colleges and universities, a Careers in Research session to expose participants to the work of local research centers and information on how their skills can be an asset to such centers, and group events by profession to review licensing processes, explore job opportunities available in the social service and health sector without a license requirement, and prepare for licensing exams. These group activities also provide participants with valuable opportunities for peer networking with other foreign-trained health professionals from different countries and, whenever feasible, peer mentoring.

The centers also provide participants access to useful resources in U.S. health care through their lending libraries. For example, participants are able to borrow NCLEX exam preparation materials or job search books for the fastest growing health professions in the U.S.

Discharge

Discharge is defined as the point when a participant accomplishes the goals established in his or her career pathway plan or when a participant no longer needs the services provided by Welcome Back.

Confidentiality

Welcome Back takes responsibility for securing the safety and confidentiality of all participant information. Under no circumstances are participants’ records taken out of the office or is information about a participant released without his or her prior written consent.