Talent Development Center Evaluation

Rutgers EERC conducted a third-party evaluation of a grant-funded effort to build career pathways in healthcare and health-related fields in New Jersey. In 2018-2019, the Healthcare Talent Development Center (the Center) at the School of Management and Labor Relations at Rutgers University (SMLR) operated three programs funded by the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (NJDLWD) with a goal of expanding the mid-skill workforce in health-related fields: 1) the Health Care Talent Development Center, 2) the Life Science Talent Development Center, and 3) the Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC) training program. These three programs were part of a broader statewide network of talent development centers (TDCs), all funded by the NJDLWD, focused on developing the workforce in strong or growing industries. The evaluation examines the work of the programs operated by the Center, describes the process of implementing those programs and the populations they served, and identifies potential improvements that may enhance the success of similar programs in the future.