Phlebotomy Certification Helps People in Recovery Overcome Barriers to Healthcare Jobs
May 27, 2025
Greenwich House’s First Cohort of the Groundbreaking Phlebotomy Training Program Are Set to Graduate in May
New York, NY – Greenwich House’s first cohort from the innovative public-private partnership will graduate on May 30, 2025. The program helps New Yorkers in recovery use their lived experiences to build rewarding careers as phlebotomists in healthcare.
Funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Labor, this program offers phlebotomy training for people in recovery at no charge through the College of Staten Island (CSI)’s Economic Development and Community Partnerships program. After six weeks of didactic training at CSI, participants gain hands-on clinical experience through an externship with Labcorp. At the end of the certification program, participants enter a workforce readiness bootcamp which provides comprehensive wraparound job search and application support from the Greenwich House Lifelong Skills & Opportunity Center.
Greenwich House recruited applicants for the first cohort from Greenwich House’s Center for Healing and local organizations Odyssey House, Care for the Homeless, Educational Alliance, as well as Anchor House also provided applicants. Participants leveraged their lived experience with substance use disorder. Furthermore, they gained the skills necessary to enter one of New York’s fastest-growing health fields.
Building Inclusive Career Pathways in Healthcare
“For individuals in recovery, a stable, rewarding career can be transformative,” said Darren Bloch, Executive Director and CEO, Greenwich House. “And furthermore, for local employers, struggling to find job-ready talent, this partnership creates a seamless pipeline into hard-to-fill roles.”
In 2019, the New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports launched the Recovery Friendly Workplace Tax Credit to encourage employers to hire individuals in recovery from substance use disorders. Although uptake has been modest, the initiative underscores the importance of creating supportive employment pathways for people in recovery.
Moreover, studies show that a significant percentage of those in recovery face discrimination in the workplace, further limiting their opportunities. This is where programs like Greenwich House’s phlebotomy training play a critical role. It equips individuals with job-ready skills and builds connections with inclusive employers. Additionally, this phlebotomy training program for people in recovery also challenges harmful perceptions. Ultimately, it expands access to meaningful employment opportunities.
How the Program Changes Lives
“I’ve faced so many obstacles, from addiction to housing insecurity, but I kept pushing forward for myself and my daughter,” said Jasmine G., a student in Greenwich House’s first cohort of the phlebotomy training program. “Ultimately, this program has been a turning point in my life. I knew it was exactly what I needed to make a real change.”
“As an institution committed to fostering opportunity and social mobility, the College of Staten Island’s Office of Workforce Development and Innovation is proud to play a role in this transformative program,” said Jasmine Cardona, Executive Director of Economic Development and Community Partnerships. “By providing high-quality training and education, we’re equipping individuals who are rebuilding their lives with the tools to embark on meaningful careers in healthcare. This partnership underscores the power of collaboration to create pathways to stability and growth for those who need it most.”
Moreover, Cynthia C., also a member of Greenwich House’s first phlebotomy cohort, now works as a per diem phlebotomist at Labcorp after completing this healthcare program.
“I believe in what Greenwich House is doing, giving people like me, with a background in drug use and mental illness, a chance to do something beyond the jobs society thinks we should have.”
A Longstanding Commitment to Recovery and Innovation
Greenwich House has a long history of supporting individuals in recovery from substance use disorder. The National Institute of Health awarded Greenwich House a grant in 1963. Consequently, the grant helped Greenwich House establish the first walk-in outpatient counseling center exclusively for drug treatment in New York.
“This program isn’t just about workforce development, it’s about empowering people to reclaim their futures and redefine what’s possible,” added Bloch.
Following this success, Greenwich House plans to launch the second cohort shortly.
###
For more information on the phlebotomy program, contact the Greenwich House Lifelong Skills and Opportunity Center at workforce@greenwichhouse.org or visit greenwichhouse.org/lifelong-skills.
Media Contact
Tearanny Street
Director of Marketing and Communications, Greenwich House
Email: tstreet@greenwichhouse.org
Phone: 646-941-3303
About the Greenwich House Lifelong Skills & Opportunity Center
The Lifelong Skills and Opportunity Center was created to build pathways for underrepresented populations by providing specialized workforce training, digital literacy classes, job search support and application support.
About Greenwich House
Founded in 1902, Greenwich House is dedicated to responding to the urgent, ongoing and diverse community needs of more than 20,000 children, families, and individuals through arts and education programs, older adult services, and health services that foster wellness, creativity, and connection. Learn more at www.greenwichhouse.org.