The Chelsea Jewish Foundation (CJF) announced that its educational division – the Chelsea Jewish Academy (CJA) – has partnered with North Shore Community College (NSCC) to provide healthcare training to 50 new and incumbent workers.
The collaboration was created to meet the increased demand for Nurse Assistants and Home Health Aides. This partnership, formed after NSCC received one of 10 “Rapid Response” grants of $75,000 from the state, will create a myriad of new opportunities for locally developed, regionally specific jobs and skills training.
“We are proud to partner with North Shore Community College,” notes Adam Berman, Chelsea Jewish Foundation COO. “This program will enable us to support our own workforce as well as provide a path for future educational opportunities. NSCC possesses an excellent reputation as a first-rate institution and we are very much looking forward to working with them.”
The grant will allow CJA and NSCC to conduct five courses of 10 students each at 127.5 hours per course. The first course began in June 2013 and the last course starts in March 2014. Students who participate in the Nurse Aide/Home Health Aide course will receive additional support and coaching services from NSCC. Additionally, all of the students who complete the course will be encouraged to take the Red Cross State Exam to become a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The CNA license enables individuals to enter a broad array of healthcare careers and strengthens the workforce by adding skilled workers to the regional economy.
The Chelsea Jewish Foundation has expanded significantly over the past five years and is now experiencing a great need for skilled healthcare staff. Those who complete the training and/or acquire the CNA license will be offered interviews at CJF. Additionally, completion of this program will connect the students to a broad range of health and human service credit certificates and degrees at NSCC.
“We are eager to help students pursue further educational and career opportunities,” concludes Berman.