INDIANAPOLIS (Nov. 13, 2023) – Indiana University Health has awarded The Arc of Indiana Foundation’s Erskine Green Training Institute $487,500 over three years to create a workforce training program for individuals with disabilities at Riley Hospital for Children.
EGTI, founded in 2016 by The Arc of Indiana Foundation, provides post-secondary vocational training to people with disabilities in hospitality, food service, and healthcare in Muncie, IN. Through the Lacy Family Healthcare Program, EGTI students train for a variety of jobs onsite at IU Health Ball Memorial, including kitchen cook, nutrition services, environmental services, patient transport, and inventory distribution.
The Arc of Indiana Foundation Executive Director Andy Kirby said, “EGTI has developed a tremendous partnership with IU Health and values the work we do at Ball Memorial and the relationships we have developed with the team there. Over 30 EGTI graduates have been hired at IU Health sites across the state. We are thrilled that IU Health’s faith in us will allow us to expand training to Indianapolis at Riley Hospital for Children.”
Students enrolled in EGTI’s program through Riley Children’s will attend class, master key job skills, and gain valuable work experience through an internship at Riley. In addition to hands-on job training, students will learn critical soft skills, including workplace etiquette, teamwork, taking direction, and effective communication skills.
“EGTI’s unique training program has seen great success. Over 80% of EGTI graduates have secured employment in communities throughout Indiana. We look forward to a long partnership with Riley to build on this success in the Indianapolis area,” Kirby said.
“This year’s grants connect IU Health to additional community partners who share our desire to make a positive difference in the lives of Hoosiers. We are excited about the impact this grant will have in growing EGTI’s program to train individuals with disabilities to work in the IU Health system,” said IU Health President and CEO Dennis Murphy.
About IU Health’s Community Impact Investment Fund
The $200 million Community Impact Investment (CII) Fund was established by IU Health in 2018. Administered by the IU Health Foundation, the CII Fund will support non-profit organizations in addressing social determinants of health in our communities and to achieve IU Health’s goal of making Indiana one of the healthiest states in the nation.