ESL Occupational Bridge Program

The American Dream is reflected in how individuals envision their future. However, immigrants, even those with work experience in their home countries, face barriers that can hinder the pursuit of this dream, including difficulties with certification, limited employer connections, cultural misunderstandings, and language barriers. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that both the healthcare and supply chain industries will add 2.7 million new jobs in the U.S. economy between 2019 and 2029. Data shows that available jobs are outpacing the number of qualified applicants in many states, including New Jersey. New Jersey is also home to a significant population of English as a Second Language (ESL) learners. According to the Migration Policy Institution, there were approximately 13 million immigrants living in New Jersey in 2018, almost 15% of the state’s population, with significant underemployment rates. These individuals find themselves working survival jobs without a clear path upwards or the language skills required to navigate the job market. Rowan College at Burlington County (RCBC) has seen an increase in demand for our workforce development programs from the immigrant population. Sadly, we reject many of these applications because applicants lacked either a recognizable credential or the requisite language skills.

Rowan College at Burlington County (RCBC) crafted a prototype program that effectively addresses both language and education barriers while providing the language-specific training necessary for successful entry into healthcare training programs. We now seek to expand this approach to prepare students for entry-level training programs in the supply chain industry. The ESL Occupational Bridge Program builds upon RCBC’s success in establishing and maintaining partnerships, meeting the workforce development needs in the region, and providing opportunities for advancement and career pathways for community members. With the focus on recent immigrants and those requiring ESL support, our program will provide the following educational opportunities for participants: A mobile-first English as a Second Language (ESL) instructional program, designed specifically to prepare participants for healthcare and supply chain/logistics occupations; entry into RCBC’s Adult Basic Education program to earn a General Education Diploma; CPR/basic life support training and certification or OSHA 10 training and certification; and job-shadowing opportunities with area employers. To build this program, RCBC will work with EnGen, an ESL education provider, two community organizations that work with recent immigrants, and multiple employers.

New Jersey is home to nearly 2 million immigrants and refugees whose communities represent significant geographic and language diversity (New Jersey Department of Health, 2021). Within that population, it is estimated that approximately 5% have limited English proficiency. Language barriers pose significant challenges for these immigrants, hindering their access to education, training, and employment opportunities. We have found that this underserved population is willing and able to work. Many have earned credentials in their native countries, but unfortunately, those credentials are not always recognized domestically. The lack of recognized credentials, coupled with the language barrier, prevents these residents from obtaining employment in industries desperately looking to hire. RCBC’s program addresses the need for both improved English proficiency and recognized credentials and provides benefits outside of the classroom as well. Participants will be empowered to better integrate into society, access better employment opportunities, participate more fully in civic life, and improve their overall quality of life.

As the only institution of higher learning in Burlington County, RCBC understands its mission to transform lives applies to all residents of the region. Thus, RCBC’s Workforce Development team’s deep understanding of community needs is rooted in direct engagement and collaboration among residents, community organizations, and employers across sectors. Dr. Thomas, as the Team Lead, oversees the continuing education and business engagement departments and bridges workforce development with the lived experiences of underserved populations.

A cornerstone of RCBC’s approach is a comprehensive strategy that addresses a shortage of healthcare workers and leverages RCBC’s expertise in preparing students for work with the reach of organizations serving new immigrant populations and the needs of residential care facilities. To develop our prototype healthcare program, we worked closely with a community organization serving Haitian immigrants to identify their primary barriers to workforce integration. Listening sessions and focus groups engaging over 50 participants revealed vital insights regarding the need for community and culturally responsive support systems and directly shaped program design.

We also worked with business partners to design job shadowing experiences and to share best practices for retaining multilingual employees, ensuring long-term success for participants and employers. These adaptations were transformative, fostering trust and a sense of belonging among participants. Our success is reflected in the overwhelming interest we’ve received. From October 2024 to April 2025, we are poised to serve 47 students with 23 waitlisted. By embedding the voices, ideas, and priorities of the constituents we serve into program design and implementation, we have created solutions that are both impactful and sustainable. Although many immigrants are comfortable with caregiving occupations, we need to support those with different skill sets and expand our offerings to address the growing need for workers in the supply chain/logistics field.

RCBC’s prototype ESL Occupational Bridge Program has demonstrated its value to both the immigrant community and the employer sector. Its design, implementation, and outcomes prove it is ready for expansion into multiple communities.

Between October 14 and December 20, 2024, we recruited and trained the first 10 students in the pilot. Participants completed a comprehensive eight-week curriculum that included GED test preparation, a CPR/Basic Life Support certification course, and a Career Preparation Workshop that focused on critical job-readiness skills, including resume and cover letter development, interviewing techniques, and navigating cultural differences in the job search process.

Students completed over 200 hours of healthcare-specific ESL training tailored to their chosen fields, including Sterile Processing Technician, Certified Nursing Assistant, Phlebotomy Technician, Pharmacy Technician, and Administrative Medical Technician. Each participant also completed 20 hours of job shadowing, experiencing firsthand the demands and rewards of their selected professions.

The outcomes underscore the program’s success: 70% of participants obtained their CPR/BLS certification, 80% have tested in at least one GED area, and 70% have enrolled in pathways leading to gainful employment. These achievements demonstrate the soundness of the program’s design, its potential to empower underserved populations, and its readiness to scale.

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The ESL Occupational Bridge Program represents an innovative solution to a persistent workforce challenge: the gap between the demand for skilled labor in healthcare and supply chain industries and the availability of qualified candidates. This program’s innovation lies in its comprehensive approach, combining foundational skill-building with tailored training, industry-recognized certifications, and clear pathways to further education or career advancement.

Unlike traditional workforce programs, our solution does more than prepare participants for immediate employment. By integrating English language learning with occupational training and providing seamless transitions to certification and degree programs, we empower individuals to build sustainable careers. Additionally, our focus on this underrepresented population addresses systemic barriers that other programs often overlook, ensuring equitable access to economic opportunities.

The program’s potential to catalyze broader change is significant. It serves as a replicable model that other institutions and regions can adopt, demonstrating how targeted, inclusive workforce development can address labor shortages while uplifting disadvantaged communities. By transforming how workforce programs are designed and delivered, the ESL Occupational Bridge Program has the potential to reshape the market landscape, setting a new standard for equitable and impactful economic growth initiatives.

The ultimate goal of the ESL Occupational Bridge Program is to provide the necessary skills and training required to connect willing and highly motivated individuals with gainful employment opportunities in the healthcare and supply chain industries. RCBC has identified three goals that we’ll use to track our progress as we move forward with the program. Those goals are as follows: To create a pipeline of qualified individuals that move from pre-apprenticeship programs to registered apprenticeship, employment, or postsecondary career pathways; Expand opportunities (including apprenticeships) to area residents, including underrepresented, disadvantaged, or low-skilled populations; and to increase the New Jersey labor supply with a larger pool of qualified workers who possess the skills and qualifications necessary to receive and maintain employment in the healthcare and supply chain sectors. These goals will be measured by tracking the number of students who enroll in the program, the number who complete the program, the number of GED testing modules passed, the utilization of the mobile application for ESL support, and the number who enroll in additional educational pathways and/or secure employment in their chosen industry.  The prototype program currently underway at RCBC is tracking similar metrics to gauge success.  

The transformative nature of this program has been evident as students gain confidence, build supportive communities, and develop a sense of belonging, which alleviates feelings of isolation and fosters hope for the future. The prototype program at RCBC has demonstrated these positive impacts, reinforcing our commitment to creating meaningful and lasting change. By aligning our goals with measurable outcomes, the ESL Occupational Bridge Program not only addresses immediate employment needs but also promotes long-term economic mobility and social integration for adult immigrants, ensuring a profound and enduring impact on their lives and the broader community.

The solutions team includes 11 full-time employees and 1 part-time employee.

RCBC has been promoting adult basic skills education and economic mobility for over 50 years. Guided by its mission to transform lives through innovative, high-quality, and accessible education, RCBC has consistently supported adult learners seeking foundational skills and workforce advancement. Through its Workforce Development Division, the college offers high school equivalency preparation and industry-recognized certifications, addressing barriers to education and empowering individuals to achieve economic mobility. This sustained focus has established RCBC as a leader in delivering impactful solutions for diverse communities.

RCBC's Workforce Development Division is committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment that values the unique backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences of all team members. The team reflects diversity across educational attainment, gender, race, and age, creating a rich tapestry of viewpoints and expertise that strengthens our decision-making and program development.

We ensure equity by providing all staff with access to the same training, advancement opportunities, and the ability to lead impactful projects. These practices promote professional growth and empower team members to contribute meaningfully to our shared mission. To address systemic barriers, we continuously evaluate our processes and policies to ensure they support full participation and opportunity for all, particularly for historically marginalized groups.

As the division focuses on connecting business and industry with a skilled labor pipeline, we intentionally design programs to serve populations often overlooked by traditional higher education, including justice-impacted individuals, non-English speakers, those affected by the opioid crisis, and others facing significant barriers. By purposefully reaching out to these communities and tailoring our initiatives to meet their needs, we create inclusive pathways to education and workforce development.

Our efforts align with the broader understanding of equity as access to opportunity and advancement while recognizing and addressing systemic disparities. Through this commitment, we foster an environment where all staff and stakeholders feel welcomed, respected, supported, and valued, ensuring that our impact is as inclusive and far-reaching as possible.

Our program is designed to empower recent adult immigrants by creating pathways to economic mobility and workforce integration. By addressing the unique needs of this population, we provide targeted educational and career support services for those seeking high school equivalency, English language proficiency, and entry-level career skills. This dual-purpose model benefits both immigrants and local employers in need of skilled, diverse talent.

Our primary beneficiaries are adult immigrants striving to improve their economic opportunities and integrate into the U.S. workforce. Secondary beneficiaries include local healthcare and supply chain employers seeking skilled, motivated employees. To serve these groups, we offer high school equivalency (HSE) preparation with tailored instruction to bridge knowledge gaps and align learning with U.S. cultural and workplace norms. Our English as a Second Language (ESL) and career support includes language instruction and readiness workshops on resume writing, interview techniques, and professional etiquette. Participants can also earn entry-level certifications beneficial in the healthcare or supply chain industries. To enhance workforce readiness, participants gain 20 hours of job shadowing experience in their chosen fields, fostering professional connections and real-world insights.

We ensure accessibility by offering a hybrid learning model, catering to participants managing work, family, and transportation challenges. Our culturally responsive approach includes training for educators to meet participants’ linguistic and emotional needs. Partnerships with local social service agencies provide wraparound supports.

This program is essential for immigrants who face barriers to economic advancement due to limited credentials and English proficiency. It equips participants with the skills to access careers that have advancement opportunities, to integrate into the workforce, and to build supportive networks. Additionally, local employers gain access to a skilled, prepared workforce, creating long-term benefits for individuals, businesses, and the community.

The financial sustainability of the ESL Occupational Bridge Program is grounded in a diversified funding strategy that combines grant funding, institutional support in the form of scholarships, and business partnerships. Adult Education programs at RCBC are currently funded through the New Jersey Department of Labor, and this innovative program will be incorporated into the next five-year grant application to ensure coverage for GED preparation and ESL support costs.

To further offset costs, an internal award will be requested from the RCBC Foundation Office to cover GED testing expenses for all Adult Basic Education students. This award will be administered as a scholarship fund that will establish and maintain long-term support for these essential testing services.

The Continuing Education department, responsible for delivering certification and skills training, will continue identifying and pursuing external grant opportunities to bridge funding gaps until program revenues are sufficient to sustain operations. This approach has proven successful in the past, with RCBC securing grants to fund other workforce development programs, demonstrating the institution’s capability to attract and manage external funding.

Business Engagement’s efforts will remain a critical part of our sustainability strategy. By working closely with regional employers, RCBC will continue to promote participation in job-shadowing programs, ensuring the program meets industry needs while fostering partnerships that can lead to future sponsorships or funding.

This multi-faceted approach ensures that the program will have the necessary resources to continue serving students while aligning with RCBC’s mission of transforming lives and meeting regional workforce demands. Our history of securing grants and building strong employer relationships provides clear evidence of our ability to execute this plan successfully and achieve long-term sustainability.

Support from the Truist Foundation Inspire Awards will allow RCBC to expand its ESL Occupational Bridge Program and prepare participants for employment in either healthcare or supply chain/logistics. The prototype initiative has successfully addressed critical barriers for underserved populations, particularly new immigrants, allowing them to enter high-demand healthcare careers. 

However, to maintain our healthcare offerings, add supply chain/logistics, and ensure long-term viability, we recognize the need for targeted capacity-building resources and expertise provided by the Truist Foundation. Access to consultants, subject matter experts, and workshops as well as insights into industry best practices will enhance our program design and operational strategies and also prepare us to expand our offerings with four additional certifications in the cybersecurity field, thus creating equitable opportunities for a broader range of underserved individuals and aligning with our mission to empower communities through education and workforce development.