“Patience and responsibility matter a lot,” says Freddy, as he gets ready for a shift at his new job as a healthcare aide in New York City. “As does teamwork with doctors, nurses, and other healthcare aides. So we can do a good job.”
He takes a beat, then corrects himself: “Not just a good job, a great job, one done with love.”
Two years ago, Freddy was working as a university-trained civil engineer in Ecuador. In recent years, most of the country’s residents have felt the effects of a conflict between powerful cartels and a hardline government, all amid extreme economic volatility.
“I honestly never thought I would come to the United States; I hadn’t planned on it,” Freddy recalls. “But life takes us places, and now we’re here.”
Healthcare Workers: A Growing Need
The American economy faces its own challenges, with ripple effects felt in Ecuador, which uses American currency. In the United States, an average of 7.1 million job openings remain unfilled, and nearly as many people are unemployed.
The healthcare industry, in particular, faces a major labor shortage. An increasingly aging population is driving up the need for care workers, while a lack of funding and economic turbulence are making it harder for both the private and public sectors to meet it.
“Healthcare needs many more people,” asserts Freddy.
And while there is no shortage of people who are eager to meet this need, certification and language skills remain barriers to filling open positions.
In June 2024, Catholic Charities of New York began its Bridge to Healthcare program, a workforce development program that aims to solve this exact problem, providing English-language instruction, skills and certification training, and individualized career readiness and job placement support, all at no cost to participants.
“I don’t like to say ‘free,’ because it’s six months of work,” says Vivian Villar Gaudry, a Workforce Development Manager for Catholic Charities of New York and one of the leaders of Bridge to Healthcare.
“It’s not just charity,” adds Gaudry. “Here, we provide love and care, but we also demand discipline. I always let participants know that if they’re going to join the program, each of them must be willing to be one of the best when it comes to taking care of someone.”
A Structured Path to a New Career
Based in Catholic Charities of New York’s downtown offices, Bridge to Healthcare starts with 9 weeks of English instruction focused on healthcare vocabulary and language. After that, participants receive training through partner organizations and schools. Then, participants work with Bridge to Healthcare case managers to secure job placements.
The inaugural cohorts of Bridge to Healthcare saw an 85% graduation rate, with 100% of graduates (90 students in total) achieving job placement as home health aides.
“I’ve always wanted to help more people,” says Freddy. “When I worked as a civil engineer, I did that in one way, but doing it here in healthcare, I realize I like it much more and can help people more directly.”
Gaudry explains that Bridge to Healthcare can also serve as an entry point to other programs and services offered by Catholic Charities of New York. “Each day we work to support these students. Some people have housing issues or problems getting food, clothes, and other essentials,” she explains. “We provide all these things to them so they can consistently attend evening classes. We’re here to help students at each stage with stipends, tuition, and other support.”
She recalls her own journey, coming to America from Peru and finding help in her path to citizenship from Catholic Charities of New York.
“When I came here 10 years ago, I didn’t know how to apply for jobs or citizenship,” she explains. “I didn’t know English, and our system is totally different. Our students need help with all the paperwork and documents they need to present to get a job. It’s not easy.”
“I knew education could open more doors, and the healthcare program helped me a great deal so I could help more people who need care—older adults, people with disabilities, and even children. I have worked with all of them,” Freddy explains. “I’d like to keep growing and studying.”
Building the Bridge, Expanding Opportunities
The initial cohorts trained specifically as home health aides (HHAs), but Catholic Charities of New York is currently working to expand its offerings to include training for certified nursing assistants (CNAs), medical assistants, patient care technicians, and other health professions.
To serve more students and expand career pathways, Catholic Charities of New York is working with The New York Times Communities Fund on a collaborative fundraising campaign. Donor support is essential to the program’s goals.
“There is a real need for help,” says Freddy. “It’s a good thing for this program to be able to continue giving these opportunities to more people like me, who came to this country with dreams and want to achieve their goals and, above all, help people here who need care.”
“New York needs more healthcare workers,” says Gaudry. “Healthcare is a big industry here, and someday everyone will need somebody to take care of them. By donating, you will help people in the future give something back to you, or maybe your family members or your friends.”
As Freddy buttons his medical scrubs in a New York City locker room, he expresses gratitude that he can pay forward the love that he has received from Bridge to Healthcare’s leaders and instructors, as well as the community of donors, colleagues, and volunteers that support them.
“At the end of the day, it’s wonderful to know you’ve done something for other people who need help,” he says. “I’m working now, and it’s wonderful to be able to help. That’s the main reason that I continue in healthcare. I want to keep going, not only to help people but also to give them peace of mind and hope.”
Help more determined workers build essential careers by supporting our fundraising campaign for Bridge to Healthcare! Your gift helps people like Freddy sustain themselves as they provide loving care to people who need it, including children, older adults, and people living with disabilities.
