For Immediate Release:
Wednesday, December 13, 2006

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Dan Boren announced today that the U.S. Department of Labor has awarded Eastern Oklahoma State College a $1,786,780 grant to train workers for careers in the health care industry through the Southeast Oklahoma Nursing Project.  The grant was awarded following a highly-competitive process – of 429 applications submitted nationwide only 72 were approved.  Eastern was the only successful Oklahoma applicant.

 

“This project will enable Eastern and its partners to train individuals for a high-growth, high-demand occupation and provide a more stable workforce of health care professionals for an underserved area of Eastern Oklahoma,” Boren said.

 

The grant will increase Eastern’s capacity to train and certify individuals to work as registered nurses.  Eastern anticipates training 309 participants through the program with an 85 percent annual certification rate and 95 percent job placement.

 

“We are very proud of our nursing program at Eastern, and I'd like to thank Congressman Boren, Senator Inhofe, and the Choctaw Nation for their help in securing this grant funding,” Eastern President Richard M. Bernard said.  Choctaw Nation grants writer Dr. John Jackson noted that this is the Choctaw’s largest partnership grant success ever.

 

The Southeast Oklahoma Workforce Investment Area Occupational Outlook for 2002-2012 indicates a 42 percent increase in demand for RNs in the region.  A U.S. Department of Labor assessment of local hospitals, clinics, and other health care facilities reveals a severe need for nurses - 100 percent of the employers cited difficulty recruiting and retaining qualified nurses to fill their growing vacancies.

 

Eastern will partner with the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, McAlester Regional Health Center, Medical Center of Southeastern Oklahoma, the Workforce Investment Board, and the Oklahoma State Department of Health to provide training.  The program targets 11 counties - all of which have been designated by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as medically underserved areas.

 

“The Choctaw Nation and Eastern Oklahoma State College have been excellent partners in furthering education opportunities. The expansion of the nursing program at Eastern will be a tremendous help in recruiting much needed nurses to work at tribal health facilities and other area hospitals and clinics,” Chief Gregory E. Pyle said. “We are very proud to be involved in acquiring this much needed grant for Eastern. It has long been a focus of the Choctaw Nation to provide education and training for good quality jobs.”

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