Aug 23 - Grant Helps Workers Enter Healthcare Profession

ST. PAUL – The state Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) announced a $99,000 Low Income Worker Training Program grant to help a partnership of the Anoka County Technical College, Anoka County Job Training Center and the Minnesota Job Skills Partnership train 60 people as nursing assistants or home health aides.

“This grant funds training initiatives that will help workers gain the skills required by the health care industry in Minnesota,” said Dan McElroy, DEED commissioner and Minnesota Job Skills Partnership board chair. “It will enhance skills for nursing assistants and home health aides, and improve their career opportunities.”

Under the grant, 60 lower-income trainees will enroll in a 123-hour Universal Health Care Worker for Older Adults program. Trainees will study Understanding Gerontology, Introduction to Medication Administration, Understanding the Transformation and Culture Change, and Program Activities. After completing a competency evaluation, students may become employed by a long-term care facility, hospital or home health agency.

The Low Income Worker Training Program was launched in 2005 within DEED’s Job Skills Partnership Program. The program helps people with incomes at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty line to learn additional skills that enable them to move up the career ladder to higher-paying jobs.

 For more information on the grant, contact Nicole Swanson, Anoka County Job Training Center, 763-783-4866, or e-mail nicole.swanson@co.anoka.mn.us.   

MJSP offers technical, financial and job training assistance to businesses, communities, educational institutions and workers. The board brings businesses with specific education needs together with educational institutions to design customized training programs.

DEED is the state’s principal economic development agency, promoting business recruitment, expansion and retention, workforce development, international trade and community development. For more details about the agency and our services, visit us at www.PositivelyMinnesota.com. Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/PositivelyMN.

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Upon request, the information in this news release is available in an alternative format such as Braille, large print, audiotape or computer disk.

Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development
Communications Office
Phone 651/259-7161 or 1-800-657-3858 ∙ TTY 1-800-657-3973
www.PositivelyMinnesota.com