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    NORTH AMERICAN Newsline                                                   MAY 22, 2026     |  The Indian Eye 31

                          NYC Health + Hospitals Launches

                 “Care Corps” to Build Behavioral Health

              Workforce Through Paid Training Program

            OUR BUREAU
            New York, NY
                  s part of Mental Health Aware-
                  ness  Month,  NYC  Health  +
            AHospitals and Project Renew-
            al have announced the expansion of
            Care  Corps,  a  workforce  develop-
            ment initiative designed to train New
            Yorkers facing significant barriers to
            employment  for  entry-level  roles  in
            behavioral health care.
                The $2 million program aims to
            address  persistent  staffing  shortages
            in the city’s public behavioral health
            system  while  creating  structured  ca-
            reer pathways for residents historical-
            ly excluded from stable employment
            opportunities.  Since  its  pilot  launch
            last year, 45 participants have gradu-  ing, and patient escorts. Salaries begin  tor of Nursing Simulation in the Office  pathy—qualities  considered  essential
            ated from the program, with 78%—or   at  approximately  $50,000  annually,  of Patient Centered Care, said the pro-  in behavioral health care environments.
            35 individuals—securing employment   with  full  union  representation  and  gram is designed to connect workforce   Project Renewal, a key program
            at NYC Health + Hospitals or other   medical benefits.              development with quality patient care.  partner,  provides  classroom  instruc-
            health systems across the city.       Officials say the program is specif-  “Care  Corps  embodies  this  commit-  tion and participant support services.
                Officials say the initiative will con-  ically designed to lower barriers to en-  ment  by  providing  individuals  with  a  Jaime Madden, Chief Operating Of-
            tinue  training  new  cohorts  through   try  while  maintaining  high  standards  pathway to acquire valuable skills and  ficer, said the program demonstrates
            2026,  with  potential  expansion  de-  of clinical preparedness through sim-  join the behavioral health workforce,”  the value of combining workforce de-
            pending on workforce demand across   ulation-based learning and structured  she said.                 velopment with social impact. “Stable
            the city’s mental health facilities.  mentorship.                       Dr.   Michael   Meguerdichian,  employment  can  be  transformative,
                Care Corps is structured as a six-  “Our workforce is the backbone  Chief System Medical Simulation Of-  and lived experience is a powerful as-
            week  paid  training  pipeline.  Partic-  of  the  City’s  health  care  system,”  ficer at IMSAL, said the collaboration  set in behavioral health care,” she said.
            ipants  first  complete  three  weeks  of   said  Sophie  Pauze,  Senior  Director  helps participants build both technical  “Care Corps is helping New Yorkers
            classroom  instruction  at  Project  Re-  of Strategy & Impact in the Office of  skills and situational awareness. “This  turn barriers into career pathways.”
            newal,  followed  by  a  three-week  su-  Behavioral  Health  at  NYC  Health  program allows community members   The program is part of a broad-
            pervised internship at NYC Health +   +  Hospitals.  “Care  Corps  expands  to understand the job they are applying  er  workforce  expansion  strategy  at
            Hospitals’ Institute for Medical Sim-  opportunities for New Yorkers to en-  for and develop the skills they need to  NYC  Health  +  Hospitals,  which
            ulation and Advanced Learning (IM-  ter  the  behavioral  health  workforce  succeed when faced with the challeng-  operates  the  largest  behavioral
            SAL). During the internship, trainees   through a supported pathway into an  es of behavioral health units,” he said.  health  system  in  New  York  City.
            engage in simulated hospital scenarios   essential nursing support role with sig-  Program designers emphasize the  The  system  provides  nearly  60%
            using  trained  actors  to  replicate  re-  nificant opportunities for growth and  importance  of  experiential  learning.  of  the  city’s  behavioral  health  ser-
            al-world behavioral health situations.  career advancement.”        Dana Trottier, Director of the Fellow-  vices  and  treats  more  than  82,000
                Unlike traditional unpaid training   She added that the initiative re-  ship in Healthcare Simulation, said the  patients  annually  across  inpatient,
            models, participants are compensated   flects a broader commitment to build-  curriculum is structured to replicate the  outpatient,  and  emergency  settings.
            based  on  training  hours  completed   ing  a  more  inclusive  public  health  full cycle of inpatient psychiatric care.  Officials say Care Corps comple-
            during  their  internship,  a  design  in-  workforce that reflects the communi-  “What makes Care Corps unique  ments several other initiatives aimed
            tended  to  mirror  real  employment   ties it serves.              is that we don’t just teach skills — we  at strengthening the behavioral health
            conditions and build professional ac-  At the core of the program is sim-  create  an  immersive  learning  expe-  workforce pipeline. These include the
            countability.                     ulation-based  training,  which  takes  rience,”  she  said.  “Trainees  develop  Behavioral  Health  Nursing  Career
                Upon  completion,  graduates   place  at  IMSAL,  where  participants  therapeutic  relationships,  practice  Ladder,  which  supports  staff  in  ad-
            qualify  for  positions  as  Psychiatric   practice  responding  to  behavioral  crisis  response,  and  build  emotional  vancing  to  nursing  roles;  psychiatric
            Social  Health  Technicians.  These   health scenarios in a controlled, immer-  resilience in a psychologically safe en-  nurse practitioner fellowships; physi-
            entry-level  roles  support  behavioral   sive environment. According to system  vironment before entering real clinical  cian assistant behavioral health train-
            health  nursing  staff  in  inpatient  psy-  officials, this approach allows trainees  settings.”     ing rotations; and the NextGen Public
            chiatric units, assisting with patient ac-  to  rehearse  high-stress  clinical  inter-  She added that continuity of simu-  Psychiatry  Leadership  Program  for
            tivities of daily living, wellness checks,   actions before entering hospital units.  lation exercises helps participants build  residents  pursuing  public  sector  psy-
            observation  duties,  hallway  monitor-  Kimberly Campbell-Taylor, Direc-  confidence,  professionalism,  and  em-  chiatry careers.

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