Healthcare Anchor Network

a growing national collaboration of over 75 leading healthcare systems building more inclusive and sustainable local economies

Impact Workforce Commitment (IWC)

Impact Workforce Commitment (IWC)

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Health systems across the country, some of the largest employers in their areas, have signed the “Impact Workforce Commitment” (IWC) to build healthy and strong local economies through their hiring and workforce development programs and policies. The commitment, designed in partnership with a leadership group of Healthcare Anchor Network (HAN) member health systems and Shift Work Forward (formerly the National Fund for Workforce Solutions), includes aligning hiring and workforce power with clinical and community efforts to provide opportunities for individuals who may have faced barriers to employment due to myriad factors. These factors include low income and lack of access to education and training. The commitment aims to improve societal health and well-being by creating economic opportunities and strengthening local economies.

Current IWC’s signatories are listed below. Here is a summary of the IWC goals. 

  • Increasing the number of “impact hires” (employees hired from economically disadvantaged areas who connect to the organization through intentional pathways into jobs that require less than a bachelor’s degree) by building and expanding partnerships, programs, and initiatives with community organizations and education providers, and by removing barriers to employment.
  • Increasing the number of employees who are promoted from positions that require less than a bachelor’s degree into higher skilled, higher wage roles by 2027 through direct investment in workforce development. These investments could include apprenticeships, other earn-and-learn programs, tuition advancement, and other initiatives and internal policy changes. About 9.7 million individuals currently work in critical, lower-wage healthcare occupations (e.g., medical assistants, home health aides, nursing assistants, etc.).
  • Conducting policy advocacy to accelerate workforce development investment in the public sector.
  • Creating a dedicated financial support program for employees to address employee financial stability and advance equity in benefits utilization. In addition, signatories will implement strategies to help employees achieve long-term financial stability, such as 403(b) or 401(k) auto-enrollment and auto-escalation to build retirement savings.
  • Ensuring fair leadership development and advancement at all health system levels through intentional training and development.

Impact Workforce Commitment (IWC) Signatories

Impact Workforce Commitment (IWC) Case Studies