LOS ANGELES, Calif. – The Miguel Contreras Foundation (MCF) has been awarded $3.5 million through California Workforce Development Board’s (CWDB) High Road Training Partnerships (HRTP) to launch Expanding Pathways to Healthcare, a multi-year initiative designed to connect opportunity youth to high-quality, high-road healthcare careers across Southern California.
The grant supports a powerful partnership between MCF, SEIU-UHW, AlliedUP, and Futuro Health, bringing together workforce development, labor, and training leaders to address critical healthcare staffing shortages while improving job quality and long-term career mobility for underserved young people.
Through this initiative, participants will receive training and placement support for in-demand allied health roles. The program prioritizes placement into high-road positions offering living wages, benefits, and clear pathways for advancement.
“California’s healthcare system depends on a skilled, supported workforce, yet too many young people face barriers to accessing these careers,” said Armando Loza, MCF Executive Director. “We are redefining workforce development through an innovative holistic approach.”
Over the two year life of the grant, the program will aim to place over 210 participants into healthcare careers. Participants will receive comprehensive wraparound services, including case management, stipends for essentials like transportation and childcare, job readiness coaching, and ongoing post-placement support.
A core feature of the initiative is its emphasis on worker voice and job quality. Youth participants will engage in biannual Youth Ambassador Group (YAG) convenings, providing direct feedback to employers and partners to improve workplace practices, retention, and satisfaction. Worker education and mentorship will be embedded throughout the program to ensure participants understand their rights and pathways for advancement.
“When we invest in healthcare workers, we invest in the health of our communities,” said President of SEIU-UHW, Dave Regan. “This partnership strengthens patient care by ensuring the next generation of healthcare workers is well-trained, fairly compensated, and supported to succeed”.
The program will serve participants across Los Angeles, the Inland Empire, and San Diego, regions facing acute healthcare workforce shortages driven by burnout, turnover, and insufficient training pipelines. Outcomes will be tracked through robust data systems to measure job placement, wage levels, retention, and participant satisfaction.
The Expanding Pathways to Healthcare initiative builds on MCF’s long-standing commitment to advancing economic mobility for opportunity youth through education, workforce development, and labor-aligned career pathways.
MCF extends its gratitude to the HRTP/CWDB team, AlliedUp, SEIU-UHW, Futuro Health, and all partner organizations committed to a stronger, more stable, and more equitable healthcare workforce.
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To learn more about the Miguel Contreras Foundation, visit www.miguelcontrerasfoundation.org.
Miguel Contreras Foundation
2130 W. James M. Wood Blvd. • Los Angeles, CA 90006 📞 (213) 805-6822 | 🌐
miguelcontrerasfoundation.org 📧 info@miguelcontrerasfoundation.org
Empowering the next generation of leaders through equity, opportunity, and union careers.