Our Mission

Recognizing that the current and anticipated demand for high quality workforce development programs far exceeds the philanthropic resources of Claude Moore Charitable Foundation, we created Claude Moore Opportunities (CMO), an independent, public 501(c)3, to build upon its legacy and to further the foundation’s mission to increase academic competence and encourage leadership especially for under-resourced populations throughout the Commonwealth

Our Goal

CMO is bringing Virginia stakeholders together using a comprehensive systems-thinking approach that creates opportunities from early education through high school and engages everyone to fill critical workforce needs with the proper 
ongoing training, support, and opportunity—regardless of age.

Programs We Support

The Workforce Highway

Career trajectories are not linear. Nor is it reasonable to expect an individual to stay in one job for a lifetime. CMO supports programs that create effective pathways for skill development, growth, and advancement; allowing individuals to smoothly transition between school, initial work, and various career changes. We call this concept the Workforce Highway because it’s a journey with various stops and destinations.
 
The Workforce Highway concept is based upon the monumental work of the Claude Moore Scholars Program that explored the relationship between health workforce shortages across Virginia and health disparities between populations and health outcomes. This program enables young people to pursue diverse and sustainable health science careers in over 50 school divisions.
 
The highway promotes continual learning, beginning with early engagement in middle school and continuing throughout with professional education. It also facilitates on and off ramps as students transition between school and work for upskilling and career change, while contributing to the economic development in local communities.

Programs We Support

The Workforce Highway

Career trajectories are not linear. Nor is it reasonable to expect an individual to stay in one job for a lifetime. CMO supports programs that create effective pathways for skill development, growth, and advancement; allowing individuals to smoothly transition between school, initial work, and various career changes. We call this concept the Workforce Highway because it’s a journey with various stops and destinations. The Workforce Highway concept is based upon the monumental work of the Claude Moore Scholars Program that explored the relationship between health workforce shortages across Virginia and health disparities between populations and health outcomes. This program enables young people to pursue diverse and sustainable health science careers in over 50 school divisions. The highway promotes continual learning, beginning with early engagement in middle school and continuing throughout with professional education. It also facilitates on and off ramps as students transition between school and work for upskilling and career change, while contributing to the economic development in local communities.

Case studies representing the type of programs we support:

Public Schools K-12
Manassas Park High School in Manassas Park, Virginia launched its first Claude Moore Scholars Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program during the 2023-2024 school year. This first cohort of students completed the required clinical hours for certification at the Capital Caring facility in Aldie, Virginia. It is is one of the nation’s oldest and largest non-profit providers of hospice and palliative care. All of the students 
passed their written exams with a 100% score and several students were hired by Capital Caring . All graduates are pursuing further education and training in nursing.
Virginia Community College System Dual Enrollment
Rappahannock Community College (RCC) serves fourteen independent towns and counties within the Northern Neck and the Peninsula of Virginia in coordination with the local K-12 public school systems within these regions. All health sciences programs at RCC present opportunities for students to earn licenss and credentials, as well as receive dual enrollment credit. The Bridging Communities Technical Center in New Kent, Virginia had a 100% pass rate for students in the Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) program during the 2023-2024 school year. The addition of these licensed young professionals to the local workforce provides an important asset for healthcare within the rural communities that they serve.
Workforce Credential Programs
Germanna Community College (GCC) is located within the greater Fredericksburg and Locust Grove, Virginia communities. The Rappahannock Community Services Board serves the greater Fredericksburg City, King George County, and Caroline County communities. Behavioral Health is experiencing critical shortages within many Virginia communities. There are not enough trained professionals to meet the behavioral health needs within communities. GCC and the Rappahannock Community Services Board partnered together to create a unique “Earn While You Learn” program that would create a new credential 
known at a Behavioral Health Technician, which has recently been codified into law.. The students enrolled in coursework at the community college and were paid to work a number of hours at the community services board. All graduates are pursuing additional education and training in the behavioral health pathway. Some of the graduates are still employed by the community services board.
Employer Engaged Workforce Collaborations
For more information on The Blue Ridge Partnership for Health Science Careers:
Visit Their Site
The Blue Ridge Partnership for Health Science Careers is a collaboration of educators, employers, and economic development professionals in the Roanoke and New River Valleys, the Alleghany Highlands, and the greater Lynchburg region. As members of GO Virginia Region 2, they are committed to improving health sciences education and aligning instruction to meet the workforce needs of the region’s health employers, including hospitals, health systems, long-term care facilities, and emerging biomedical companies. The Partnership uses a new model for health sciences education and workforce development to:
  • Meet the rapidly growing need for qualified clinical and administrative staff
  • Support the region’s emerging health and life sciences sector
  • Attract established companies seeking to expand or relocate
The BRPHSC model aligns with the region’s economic development and job growth goals to establish practical talent pathways, meet employer needs, promote entrepreneurship, and provide meaningful health careers. The model also partners with K-12 public schools within that region to create pathways for students to explore and build career pathways for a lifetime.

For more information on The Blue Ridge Partnership 
for Health Science Careers:

Visit Their Site

Health 
& Human Services

Virginia’s families have struggled not only with a global pandemic but with unprecedented life challenges such as food insecurity, financial loss, lack of jobs, and school closures. Layering on top the ongoing behavioral health crisis, human service professionals have played a key role providing frontline services to our most vulnerable families. After hearing from many human service leaders in the field, the Claude Moore Charitable Foundation took action to develop a report and strategic plan to define the common and pervasive workforce challenges and to identify the strategies needed to strengthen the human services workforce in the Commonwealth.  We first convened the Human Services Workforce Leadership Advisory Group which included experts and practitioners from behavioral health, social services, juvenile justice, adult corrections and public children’s and student support services.

George Mason University Center for Health Workforce Development

The Mason Center for Interprofessional Health Workforce Development was established to support the Claude Moore Scholars program though data collection on health workforce needs as well as supporting education and training through a learning management system that provides teacher support, and a variety of curricula including instruction in 21 of the 23 “career readiness skills” required in Career and Technical Education. The Center serves as a catalyst and facilitator of community action for health workforce development across Virginia by leveraging Mason’s resources and expertise to support research and community planning for workforce development. The Center supports the development and delivery of public/private strategies to optimize physical and behavioral health career education (career entry and progression) and post-graduate skill training. Additionally, the Center serves as a technical assistance center for health workforce research, program evaluation, and planning and analysis for government agencies, academic entities, and professional organizations.

Advocacy 
for Policy 
and Best Practices

As a trusted source who advocates for funding and systemic change that supports individuals looking for training in high demand fields as well as support employers who are looking for talent, CMO will work closely with local, state, and federal leaders, elected officials and agencies to build pathways to good jobs for all Virginians, especially under resourced.
 
We will convene experts and practitioners through surveys, interviews, and meetings to find root causes of challenges and build roadmaps to realistic budget and legislative solutions.

Join us in investing in a scalable workforce development model that will broaden career opportunities for all.

Reach out to us!
CMOInfo@ClaudeMoore.org
Want to make an impact on your community and support meaningful lifelong careers?
Donate to Make a Change Today
© 2024 Claude Moore Opportunities. All rights reserved.
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Want to make an impact on your community and support meaningful lifelong careers?
Donate to Make a Change Today

Reach out to us!

CMOInfo@ClaudeMoore.org

Visit us on Linked for the latest news.

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© 2024 Claude Moore Opportunities. All rights reserved.

Want to make an impact on your community and support meaningful lifelong careers?

Donate to Make a Change Today

Reach out to us!

CMOInfo@ClaudeMoore.org

© 2024 Claude Moore Opportunities. All rights reserved.