Mt. Diablo Adult Education launches EMS Corps in partnership with Workforce Development Boards

By Theresa Harrington Brandt
MDUSD Public Information Officer

MDUSD's Adult Education program has launched a new "EMS Corps" Emergency Medical Service training program aimed at helping young people from diverse low-income communities pursue careers as Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs), paramedics, firefighters and other medical professionals - with a goal of building an emergency workforce that better reflects local residents.

The program is made possible through a partnership with the Contra Costa County Workforce Development Board and other local agencies, as part of a larger statewide initiative in partnership with the California Workforce Development Board. On Aug. 26, state and local officials toured the program to share information that could be used by other regions that are also implementing it.

“It was wonderful to hear so many dedicated voices and even more incredible to watch the EMS Corp cohort take such pride in their career paths,” said Ben McDonald, Deputy Counsel for the California Workforce Development Board.

Although MDUSD Adult Education has offered EMT courses for many years, the new EMS Corps curriculum is innovative because it "flips" instruction by requiring students to learn independently through online lessons on laptops at home, then put what they learned into practice through hands-on instruction the next day. The classroom experience includes virtual reality headsets that simulate a variety of emergency scenarios, such as people who need help on a subway, or on a park bench. Instructor Mike Hess, who has taught EMT courses for two decades, said his current class of 20 students is learning faster and performing better on their medical assessments than any group of students he has ever taught. "This stuff works," he said.

The program also offers stipends to students to help offset their expenses and life coaches to help them deal with challenges both at school and at home, as well as to plan future goals and the steps they need to take to achieve them. And students participate in community service projects such as volunteering at soup kitchens, which strengthens their commitment to helping others. Concord resident Jione Kaufusi, 32, said he is enjoying the program. "Its just refreshing," he said. "It's a different way of learning. If I have a question, I love that I can rely on my peers and instructor and past students who come in and shine the light on our path for the future." 

The path includes earning an EMT certification, as well as certifications in Advanced Medical Life Support, Prehospital Trauma Life Support and Emergency Vehicle Operations. It offers career support and the opportunity to pursue additional training as paramedics while working as EMTs, in partnership with the AMR ambulance company.

EMS Corps trainees are required to have exposure to work in the field to learn how to work with a diverse population, and how to deal with trauma in those they care for, as well as themselves, said Vittoria Abbate, MDUSD's Director of College & Career and Adult Education. "They learn how to build their self-efficacy for services to the public, how to expand their self-learning ability that will help them grow and excel in their work," she explained. "All the work-readiness skills employers expect are woven into their daily training and experienced EMTs and Paramedics participate in the program, supporting and mentoring these trainees to be job-ready in the field on Day 1."

The hope is to increase the number of paramedics to fill a shortage in Contra Costa County, said MDUSD Board President Linda Mayo during her Aug. 27 report to the Board, adding that the program is specifically reaching out  major outreach is to young people of color. "I think this is a program we can be really be proud of," she said, noting that the program hopes to expand career pathways from EMTs to social workers, RNs, medical assistants, LVNs and more. "There will be multiple career paths with education provided for while they are working," Mayo said. "And it will just increase and strengthen our community, because many of these young people will remain in Contra Costa County and within the Mt. Diablo school district. The benefit is just amazing."

The program is helping the state to fulfill its promise to provide job training through regional partnerships. California Workforce Development Board Member Hala Hijazi said: "California now ranks as the world’s fourth-largest economy and our true strength lies not just in scale, but in our commitment to building an inclusive workforce and advancing public-private partnerships. Contra Costa County is leading the way through strategic collaborations with Mt. Diablo Adult Education, the Contra Costa County Workforce Development Board, East Bay Leadership Council, Contra Costa Economic Partnership, the Bay Area Health Workforce Partnership, the Working Waterfront Coalition, and many more. Together, they’re delivering innovative and successful programs while building infrastructure, removing financial and systemic barriers, and creating earn-and-learn pathways that equip young adults with hands-on skills and access to higher-earning careers with pathways to more. That’s California Jobs First and the Master Plan for Career Education in action: sustained, long-term investment in our regional partners, expanded access to opportunity, and a future-ready skilled workforce that uplifts individuals and communities across the state.”

Please see the attached flyer or click here for more information about the Contra Costa County EMS Corps program. Click here to register for an upcoming information session. Click on this reel to see EMS Corps students in action!