June 24, 2025
City Council
DATE: June 24, 2025
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Councilmember Jamelia Brown
Councilmember Sue Wilson (co-sponsor)
Subject:
Presentation from Futuro Health -Healthcare Career
Training
FINANCIAL IMPACT: Authorize up to $22,700 from the General Fund, identified grants, or other available funds. Staff will coordinate with Futuro Health to verify eligibility and disburse payments accordingly.
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
None.
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
Futuro Health, launched by SEIU-UHW and Kaiser
Permanente, provides tuition-free healthcare career
training. While program tuition is free, accepted
applicants are responsible for a $77 background check
and drug screening fee, and a $150 non-refundable
application fee ($227 total), which can be cost-prohibitive for low-income residents.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
RECEIVE a presentation from Futuro Health and ADOPT
a resolution authorizing the allocation of up to $22,700 from an identified funding source to eliminate financial barriers for up to 100 Richmond residents accepted into Futuro Health career training programs by covering
mandatory application, background check, and drug
screening fees - Councilmember Jamelia Brown (510-
412-2050)/Councilmember Sue Wilson (510-609-2111).
AGENDA
REPORT
June 24, 2025
DISCUSSION:
Futuro Health is a nonprofit organization established through a partnership between SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West (SEIU-UHW) and Kaiser Permanente. Futuro Health aims to build the largest network of credentialed allied health workers in the nation by providing tuition-free education and training programs for individuals aspiring to enter healthcare professions.
Futuro Health provides a range of tuition-free programs in high-demand allied health careers, including:
Medical Assistant
Pharmacy Technician
Phlebotomy
Emergency Room Technician
Certified Nursing Assistant
Community Health Worker
Patient Care Technician
Surgical Technologist
Vocational Nursing
Peer Support Specialist
Healthcare Customer Service Paraprofessional
This proposal seeks to eliminate financial barriers for up to 100 Richmond residents by covering the $227 fee upon program acceptance. Supporting these costs aligns with the City’s workforce development goals and promotes access to high-demand healthcare careers.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – Futuro Health Program Presentation
Attachment 2 – Resolution