8:15-9:15 a.m

29-D. Creating Career Pathways for English Language Learners

Building the skills of English language learners can help senior living organizations fill critical vacancies, retain professional caregivers, and mentor trusted staff. During this session, team members from Friendsview Retirement Community in Newberg, OR, will describe how their organization is putting English language learners on a career path in healthcare, as well as how they addressed academic bias in their training programs in order to help their housekeeping staff to succeed. Get tips for starting an English Language Learners Program in your organization and ensuring that the program leads to new hires. You’ll learn how to partner with external education programs, smooth out your hiring process to be more welcoming to English language learners, ease communication between learners, coworkers, and residents, and boost retention through training and advancement. Most of all, you will learn how benefits transfer to better learning for all your employees.

• Iliana Hernandez, Interim Director of Health Services, Friendsview Retirement Community
• Dawn Elizabeth Todd, ELL Program Coordinator, Friendsview Retirement Community