Second Baptist Church Impact Ministries - SBCIM

Second Baptist Church Impact Ministries

Tax Id: 93-2696371

Mission: Second
Baptist Church’s Impact Ministries is a non-profit organization dedicated to
the transformative power of opportunity.  
It empowers the residents of Erie's Lower East Side and surrounding
communities by equipping them, especially youth and young adults, with the
skills, resources, and confidence needed toward career development,
particularly in the burgeoning healthcare sector and beyond.

Vision: Providing practical hope toward a prosperous future

Project Design and Management
Strategy:

I.
Background and Context:

Second Baptist Church’s Impact Ministries
(SBCIM) is dedicated to addressing the multifaceted needs of residents residing
in economically disadvantaged and underserved localities, specifically centered
around Erie's Lower East Side and adjacent communities. According to a
comprehensive study conducted by CVS Health in 2020, a staggering 44% of
individuals inhabiting the Lower East Side grapple with poverty, lacking access
to fundamental necessities and services encompassing sustenance,
transportation, gainful employment, as well as quality healthcare and childcare
provisions. Notably, half of these households are devoid of private vehicles.
The per capita income remains below $18,000, with median household earnings
falling below $25,000 (approximately 40% of the median household income in the
broader Erie metropolitan area), and an alarming unemployment rate of 52%.

II.
Prevailing Service Landscape:

While community and economic development
entities constitute the dominant category of service providers, primarily
extending technical guidance, loans, and managerial assistance for fostering
local businesses and job opportunities, programs dedicated to workforce
readiness, such as vocational training and apprenticeships, are notably scarce.

III.
The Vision of SBCIM:

SBCIM's forthcoming flagship initiative is the
Adult Workforce Development Program, an endeavor poised to exhibit substantial
impact on the residents of the Lower East Side. This transformative program,
forged through a strategic partnership with CVS Health and Aetna, will
culminate in the establishment of the Workforce Innovation and Talent Center
(WITC) within the premises of Second Baptist Church. The center will operate as
a nucleus of education, equipping adults from the local neighborhoods with the
skills imperative for thriving careers across diverse domains encompassing
pharmacy operations, customer service, call center dynamics, and retail.

In conjunction with career-oriented training,
the WITC will deliver essential services such as healthcare provisions,
nutritional support through a food pantry, childcare facilities, after-school
programs, and transportation aid. This multifaceted approach is geared towards
ensuring the comprehensive preparedness of students and trainees, thus
bolstering their ability to excel in the professional sphere. SBCIM's WITC, a
pioneering establishment and the sixth of its kind nationwide, draws
inspiration from analogous centers in cities including Cleveland, Pittsburgh,
Boston, New York City, Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia. Distinguished by its
expansive scope of offerings, the WITC in Pittsburgh observed a commendable
track record in 2021: eleven graduates, where eight secured immediate
employment with CVS Health and one continued their training, yielding a perfect
graduation rate, 82% employment offers, 73% hiring rate, and an 88% retention
rate.

IV.
Program Spotlight: Pharmacy Technician Training Program

Program
Initiative:

In strategic collaboration with CVS Health,
Second Baptist Church pioneered the 1st Pharmacy Technician Program in Erie
County. This visionary undertaking was meticulously devised to equip
individuals hailing from underserved and diverse communities with specialized
healthcare training, paving their way to coveted positions and apprenticeships
within CVS Health and other prominent healthcare institutions in the region.

Program
Highlights:

The Pharmacy Technician Training Program
stands as a beacon of education, meticulously sculpting individuals for roles
within the healthcare sector and carving a trajectory toward diverse vocations
within the industry. This nationally recognized training curriculum is
meticulously designed, not only imparting technical skills but also offering a
robust support framework to eliminate barriers, thereby propelling individuals
toward triumphant professional careers.

Key
Collaborators:

This initiative thrives on a strategic
alliance between CVS Health and Second Baptist Church, embodying a shared
commitment to fostering societal upliftment through educational empowerment.

Projected
Outcomes:

Spanning a comprehensive 6-week certification
curriculum, (4 weeks in class plus a 2-week externship) the program's cohorts will be systematically rolled out throughout
the year. Successful completion of this training regimen ensures direct
integration into CVS Health or allied pharmacy roles, accompanied by the
potential to be considered for esteemed posit…