FAQs

Learn More About Futuro Health

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Futuro Health?

Futuro Health is a nonprofit organization that will help meet the growing demand for allied health care workers in California by recruiting and training 10,000 people by 2024. The organization is a joint commitment by Kaiser Permanente and SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West (SEIU-UHW).

Why was this program created?

On November 1, 2019, Kaiser Permanente and the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions established a four-year collective bargaining agreement that runs through September 30, 2023. Following ratification of this new labor agreement, Futuro Health was established by Kaiser Permanente and SEIU-UHW to improve the health and wealth of communities by investing in allied health education and skills training and retraining.

Who leads Futuro Health?

Futuro Health’s executive leadership and Board of Directors includes trailblazers from health care, education and labor.

Van Ton-Quinlivan, Futuro Health’s chief executive officer, is a nationally recognized thought leader in workforce development with a proven record for guiding and implementing large organizational change while fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration. Her distinguished career spans the public, private and non-profit sectors.

Who does the program serve?

Currently, the program serves people in California. The shortage of health care workers is most severe in California, with approximately 500,000 positions needing to be filled across all of health care by 2024. Although the initial focus will be on California, Futuro Health’s footprint will eventually include other states.

Who is eligible to apply for the program?

Eligibility will depend on the recruitment criteria set by each education pathway and tailored to the career. Additional criteria will be established should there be more qualified candidates than space.

How do I apply? When will recruitment begin?

Those who are interested in health care careers are invited to subscribe to the mailing list. Subscribers will also be notified when recruiting opens.

What types of jobs are covered by the program?

The program will provide training and education for “allied” health care jobs, which refers to a wide range of clinical, administrative and support positions such as medical assistants, care coordinators, health information technicians, pharmacy technicians and laboratory workers, among others.

How is this program different from staffing agencies that place workers in health care settings?

Futuro Health recognizes that health care providers must be able to adapt to the needs of their industry and hence they use staffing agencies to source workers. Futuro Health is a new education-to-work model intent on bringing resources at scale to help students and workers keep pace with their industry. Futuro Health supports candidates through career exploration and coaching, education financing, and targeted education-to-work pathways towards their credential or licensure attainment. Futuro Health will grow a quality workforce valued by any staffing agency.

How soon will the first participants be ready for job placement?

Timing depends on the pacing of the student and which education pathway they are on. Some education pathways average 3-6 months while others take 18-24 months. Once accepted as a student, participants are encouraged to move through their curricular pathway as fast as they are able to obtain their industry-valued credential/license and be ready for the job placement process.

Will these newly trained workers only be hired by Kaiser Permanente?

Participation with Futuro Health is not a guarantee of employment with Kaiser Permanente or any other health care provider. However, those who complete a pathway will be supported to gain employment and are expected to work for multiple years in order to practice their skills.

How is this program being funded? How long will it operate?

As part of a labor agreement reached in October of 2019 between Kaiser Permanente and SEIU-UHW, Futuro Health was established with an initial $130 million commitment. Futuro Health will use the $130 million to deliver a new education-to-work model that supports candidates through career exploration and coaching, education financing, and targeted education-to-work pathways towards their credential or licensure attainment. Based on the success of the program, it could continue beyond 2024 with additional investors.

Why should someone get training through Futuro Health rather than a community college?

Given the enormity of the allied health workforce shortage, Futuro Health will complement, not replace, the efforts of community colleges. Community colleges offer excellent allied health training programs at affordable prices. Futuro Health will work with accredited higher education institutions like Western Governors University and others to expand the number of skilled workers being produced for in-demand occupations. Additional partnerships are in the work, including ones with community colleges and other entities.

What is the cost to students?

Futuro Health is committed to increasing access to educational pathways and allied health careers by pulling together the partners needed to make the training affordable. In contrast for-profit colleges and universities require students to pay between $6,000 and $30,000 for similar training. Participants are expected to work and practice their skills upon earning their credentials.

Why should health providers partner with or recruit through Futuro Health?

Futuro Health addresses the skills gap among health care workers and trains people for the jobs that employers need to fill. Futuro Health will partner with accredited institutions to provide education pathways to ensure students build their technical skills. In addition, experienced health care workers will coach and mentor Futuro Health students during the learning process and help them practice the ‘people’ skills especially important to the future of care.