Earlier this month on the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) Immigrant and Refugee Forum, which is hosted by DEED Assistant Commissioner for Immigrant and Refugee Affairs Anisa Hajimumin, three local health care employers talked about ways they welcome New American employees.
The three guests talked about the many health care opportunities in home health care and assisted living. Those are fields which welcome immigrant and refugee employees and can provide New Americans with a stepping stone to higher paid work in health care or in other fields.
Bill Akuma is the President and CEO of Uplifted Care Services, based in Brooklyn Park and serving Minneapolis and the north metro. Bill is also the Chair of the African Health Care Provider Association. Uplifted Care Services provides assisted living in small community based homes and private duty nurses who provide high skilled nursing and other services in people’s homes. In addition, Uplifted Care Services provides adult day care in Minneapolis. Uplifted Care Services is currently hiring for PCAs , RNs and other positions.
“I try to wear the shoes of the new person who has come. We give them a soft landing, we give them opportunities,” said Bill. “We also help them adapt into a new system we understand that it is not easy. We partner them with mentors, people we have trained and they follow behind to make sure that they are ready to go.”
Abdiwadi Husen is manager of Minnesota Quality Care, which is a home health care provider based in Minneapolis. Abdiwadi also serves on the Governor’s Workforce Development board. Minnesota Quality Care is currently hiring for PCAs, intake coordinators, RNs and other positions.
“Our main thing for us here is we simplify processes for members of immigrant communities and applicants for the onboarding process. And we speak their language,” said Abdiwadi, who noted he has staff who speak Amharic, Oromo, Somali, Spanish and other languages. Minnesota Quality Care also makes sure allow time to teach and learn by example for those who may not read or write English. “For example, if someone doesn’t speak English they can cook even if they can’t read recipes. So if you show them once or twice they can do as good or better as someone who speaks English.”
Pang Vang is CEO of Rainbow Health Kare, which is a home health care provider based in St. Paul and serves the metro area, as well as central, southwest and southeast Minnesota. Rainbow Health Kare is currently hiring for PCAs and homemakers.
“I understand the immigrant frustrations and barriers because I also came here as an immigrant with my parents...I was a PCA and a caregiver for many years before I opened the business, so I understand what it is like for employees,” said Pang who shared the ways Rainbow Home Kare helps New American employees overcome barriers beyond just those related to employment. “Many have other needs, they need medical assistance, they need housing, they need energy assistance, applications to college and I do a lot of letters of recommendation to other jobs they want to go on to.”
Interested in working for one of these companies? Please see contact info below:
Uplifted Care Services
- https://upliftedcareservices.com/contact/
- 763-280-3236
Minnesota Quality Care
- https://mnqcare.com/careers/
- 612-872-8811
Rainbow Health Kare
- http://rainbowhealthkare.com/index.html
- 651-292-9900
If you missed this month’s forum, watch the discussion on DEED’s YouTube channel. The health care employer discussion begins about 1 hour into the recording.
