WilmU partners to expand health worker career pathways
Wilmington University and the Sussex County Health Coalition have entered into a strategic partnership to develop and scale career pathways for community health workers across Delaware. The initiative aims to establish clear advancement tracks into specialized, high-wage roles across the broader healthcare landscape, ensuring that local expertise is matched with professional and financial growth.
The collaboration leverages the expertise of community health workers and pairs it with the university’s formal training, ensuring workers receive professional credit and the potential for higher pay. By combining the coalition’s deep-rooted trust throughout rural Delaware with Wilmington University’s rigorous training and certificate programs, the partnership will create a seamless pathway for CHWs to advance from entry-level roles to specialized positions in healthcare, advocacy and management.
“We as a state have to do better to set individuals up with pathways for growth and prosperity. Entering into a CHW pathway makes sense from a state workforce shortage need as well as a pipeline for an individual to thrive and grow economically,” said Peggy Geisler, Sussex County Health Coalition executive director. “This key partnership with Wilmington University further solidifies this occupation as a precursor to other careers and services that Delaware needs and will benefit the individual.“
A key component of this partnership is the creation of a credit-for-prior-learning model, which ensures that the hard work and dedication CHWs invest in their development are not lost. “This strategic agreement shows how the Sussex County Health Coalition has continued to be a champion for Delaware’s workforce. This partnership with Wilmington University, which has recognized the value of registered apprenticeships, is clearing the way for health workers to advance into degree programs that will build upon the foundations of their apprenticeship experiences,” said Joe Olivere, apprenticeship and training manager at Delaware Department of Labor.
The formal training, certification, hands-on experience and apprenticeship hours completed by CHWs will be reviewed and translated into transferable college credits. By recognizing these key components of community health workers’ experience, the program aims to reduce time and cost for workers to pursue associate or bachelor’s degrees, effectively providing a springboard for higher education and filling the healthcare workforce gaps in Delaware.
“This partnership underscores Wilmington University’s commitment to recognizing the real-world experience community health workers bring to their roles,” said Dr. Aaron Sebach, dean of the college of nursing and health sciences. “By translating that experience into academic credit, we are creating clear, affordable pathways for career advancement while strengthening Delaware’s healthcare workforce.”
