Welcome Back Center of Suburban Maryland

Assists Internationally Trained Health Professionals to Re-enter the Workforce

What? 

The Welcome Back Center of Suburban Maryland is an innovative model that builds on the personal and professional assets of immigrants living in the United States to: further address health professional shortages; diversify the health workforce; provide economic opportunities to underutilized individuals as they return to work in the health field; and enhance health outcomes of the entire community.

Welcome Back Center
Fact Sheet

When? 

In 2006, the Latino Health Initiative (Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services) launched The Foreign-Trained Health Professionals Program to facilitate the Maryland health professions licensure process.  In 2010, this program became the “Welcome Back Center of Suburban Maryland,” one of several centers comprising the national “Welcome Back Initiative” network.

Where?

The Welcome Back Center of Suburban Maryland serves any internationally trained health professional currently living in Maryland, with a focus on Montgomery, Prince Georges, and Frederick Counties.

Why?   

Many highly educated and experienced immigrants residing in Maryland with education degrees and certifications in health professions conferred by other countries are currently under-employed and not utilizing their valuable skills in the health field.  The Welcome Back Center of Suburban Maryland supports the notion that greater workforce diversity may lead to improved health outcomes through better access to care by underserved populations and more effective patient/healthcare provider interactions.

How?

The Welcome Back Center model accomplishes its goals by providing:

  • Guidance and support, including individualized case management.
  • Academic training, including English as a Second Language instruction and board exam preparation.
  • On-the-job practical exposure to the U.S. healthcare system and mentoring at Maryland hospitals and other healthcare facilities.
  • Pre-employment services for health-related jobs, career development support, and job readiness training.
  • Leadership development for culturally competent transformative leaders.

Who?

The Welcome Back Center partners and supporters include:

  • Annie E. Casey Foundation
  • Frederick County Workforce Services
  • Governor’s Workforce Investment Board
  • Holy Cross Hospital
  • Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation
  • Maryland Hospital Association
  • Montgomery College
  • Montgomery County Department of Economic Development
  • Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services
  • Montgomery County Workforce Investment Board
  • Montgomery Works One-Stop Workforce Center
  • Prince George’s County Economic Development Corporation
  • Shady Grove Adventist Hospital
  • Washington Adventist Hospital
  • Welcome Back Initiative

Each partner is responsible for specific activities according to their area of expertise. Together, an effective working synergy is created that would not otherwise be possible.

To learn how you can get involved, call 240-777-3168

For additional information on the national “Welcome Back Initiative” network
visit: http://www.welcomebackinitiative.org/

Welcome Back Center Resources:

Welcome Back Center Publications:

Welcome Back Center In the News:

© 2010 Latino Health Initiative of the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services. All right reserved.