The Erie Center for Arts and Technology or ECAT launched a new program to help those looking to get into the health care field. It's a partnership with UPMC's Health Plan's Workforce Development Program. It's called Freedom House 2.0 and it's a pathways program geared to get men and women ready to enter the health care workforce in a short amount of time and with extra resources.


Monday was the first day of classes for the ten students enrolled in the program. 


Trevor Mathey, the Project Manager for the Freedom House 2.0 explained the program as, "Someone might need to take weeks or months or years out of their life or the healthcare workforce through traditional means. Freedom House is a brief program, you know,  it's only five weeks long, and provides as much wraparound services as possible."


In five weeks, students will learn the basics of allied health and accredited community health work skills to pursue careers in the medical field.


As Kate Neubert-Lechner, the Executive Director of ECAT explained, "Programs are offered at no cost to our students to provide that access point because we want to be able to make sure that we're giving those opportunities to our Erie community, so that those folks that are unemployed can continue to strive for middle wage careers, they can make a better life for themselves and for their families."


The program helps provides hand's on experiences for those wanting to take a job in healthcare, but aren't sure where to begin. The resources and mentorship don't end at the ECAT building. Once that program is done they want to keep in touch with our students and help them achieve their goals.


"Make sure we stay with our students as they graduate help them find employment while they're here in our programs. We help support them by making sure that we're providing food that we're providing help with them. If they need childcare, they need transport", said Neubert-Lechner.


Besides providing support to students, the goal of the program is to try to diversify the healthcare field. As Mathey described, "Diversify our healthcare workforce, and making sure that the people were treating are being provided care by people that look like them, and have shared life experiences to them."


Some of the health care careers that students choose to go into include medical assistant, nursing assistant, patient care assistant and community health worker. 

To learn more about the program, click here.