Frontline workers—a diverse group, such as medical assistants, health educators, laboratory technicians, substance abuse counselors and home health aides often receive limited formal training; instead, they often learn from peers and through “trial and error” experience, which may compromise service and care delivery. Jobs also lack clear standards and competency requirements, with limited supervisor attention to employee skill development and advancement. These factors, combined with workers’ perceptions that they are not recognized for their contributions, are associated with high turnover, increased costs and compromised quality.

The Jobs to Careers initiative was established to meet the needs of these  workers and their employers, who require a skilled and stable frontline workforce. These workers practice in settings such as acute care hospitals, long-term care institutions, behavioral and community health clinics, and public and community health organizations. They provide their patients and clients with preventive and early intervention services, chronic illness management strategies, and long-term and post-hospitalization rehabilitative care—4.7 million of them in the United States earn less than $40,000 per year on average, have Bachelor’s level education or less, and lack credentials that allow independent practice.