Southeast Regional Transitions Projects

1. Southeast Regional Transitions Projects

2. Southeast Minnesota Region Developed two projects for the region: Medical Coding Specialist Online Learning Program And Customer Service/Retail Sales Training Certificate Presenters: Theresa Luther-Dolan Southeast Regional Transitions Coordinator Cathy Quam ABE Instructor – Retail Sales & Service Course Mary Schroeder ABE Instructor – Medical Careers in a Digital World Course

3. Why these career pathways? • Employment outlook for Southeast Minnesota indicates Medical Records & Health Information Technician are high demand careers. (e.g. Health Records Administration, Health Records Technology, Medical Coding & Billing) • Retail/Customer Service Jobs rank 5th in demand with 308 job openings expected in the next five years in SE Minnesota.

4. Project One: Medical Coding Specialist • Medical records and health information technicians are high demand jobs in the southeast region. • A medical coding specialist career pathway was developed in partnership with MN State Southeast Technical College.

5. All of the coursework for this career can be done entirely online. • A medical coding specialist candidate can do pre-coursework at an ABE site and then enroll at SE Technical College. • The learner can continue ABE enrollment while completing the online courses.

6. Project Steps • A team of ABE teachers from the region developed a curriculum framework and complied a list of resources for the medical coding specialist career pathway.

7. SE Regional Transitions Coordinators worked closely with the faculty at SE Technical to develop a specific curriculum outline and provide resources that integrate the foundational skills within the occupational content as a bridge course.

8. SE ABE instructors and mangers participated in a workshop that provided training on how to implement this bridge course and online coursework into their programs.

9. Medical Coding Career Workshop Included: • Overview on how to prepare ABE learners to be successful online learners. • Resources included examples of pitfalls and misconceptions for online learning; what type of learner will be a successful online learner; online learning pros & cons; success strategies; technology/computer skills curriculum • Overview of the medical coding specialist career • Panelists from the field and faculty from MN State SE Technical College • Resources included modules in: college culture; job skills; medical coding specialist bridge curriculum; reading, science, math, writing; study skills; medical terminology descriptions

10. Project Two: Retail/Customer Service Careers • Retail/customer service careers are in high demand in the southeast Minnesota region. ABE programs were requesting help with developing training programs for these type of careers.

11. A workshop was held for ABE instructors to become certified trainers of the National Retail Federation Foundation Sales & Service “Train the Trainer” Program. Once trained the ABE instructors received curriculum and the certification needed to be able to deliver the NRF Foundation Sales & Service Learning Program. • ABE learners complete the course, must pass a test and then receive a customer service certificate which is a credential to show potential retail employers.

12. Building Connections • Colleges in the southeast Minnesota region • Workforce Investment Board • Workforce Centers • ABE involvement with local MnSCU and Employers • Other local agencies

13. ABE Programs in SE Minnesota • Are using the workshop resources, have developed courses or independent study for their own ABE program. • The National Retail Federation Sales & Service Certificate Test is offered at Rochester ABE. • Twelve ABE instructors are certified to teach the NRF Sales & Service Learning program.

14. SE Transition Coordinators Theresa Luther–Dolan: 651-385-4562 tmluther@redwing.k12.mn.us Britta Youmans: 507-328-4469 bryoumans@rochester.k12.mn.us Nadine Holthaus 507-328-4466 naholthaus@rochester.k12.m.us