Maria Swartz, a single mom who never finished high school, assumed a career was out of reach until she was introduced to Goodwill Industries of Colorado Springs’ Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) training program.
Job seekers enrolled in their welfare-to-work program were able to take an eight-week CNA class at no charge. The course included classroom and lab instruction, hands-on clinical training and valuable experience at Goodwill day programs serving individuals with disabilities and other special needs.
Goodwill staff members help students prepare for the CNA exam and help place them with local health care providers after graduation. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, CNAs are in high demand.
Swartz, who will receive her GED with Goodwill’s help, says the CNA course has completely changed her life.
“My daughters have never had a reason to say ‘good job’ to me before,” she says. “I can see it in their eyes that they are extremely proud of me now. This course has given me something to work toward and another purpose in life.”
The Colorado Springs Goodwill offered their class four times a year, training 80 to 100 CNAs annually.
