Putting a Face to the Work of Foundation Dollars

As she sits close to her wheelchair-bound daughter, emotions run close to the surface for Lucinda White. When asked on graduation day about why she wanted to complete this Certified Nurses Assistant training, Lucinda gestures, tilting her head sideways toward daughter and tears well up in her eyes. "For her," says Lucinda, single mother of three children.

Lucinda and several others are graduating this day from the St. Luke's Ministry Certified Nurses Aide Training Program held in Denver's Capitol Hill Neighborhood. It provides affordable CNA training and job placement to low income individuals. Class members are sometimes unemployed; often single parents, always people in search of a better tomorrow. Though connected with the church, there is no religious component to the training.

Lucinda works another job too, but when she's home, she is the caregiver for 10-year-old Elizabeth, who has cerebral palsy. Lucinda can contract through a home health care agency and actually receive compensation for the care she provides. Additionally, says Lucinda, "I know that Elizabeth won't always be with me. This training will give me a way to make extra money later on."

Hana Hailemariam says this training is in keeping with her native Ethiopian culture and her life's dream to work with and honor the elderly. Hana's goal is to continue her medical training and become a Licensed Practical Nurse. One day, she hopes to be able to work in a nursing home. She says she does not miss her former home or her former career as a banker.

The classes take place in two makeshift hospital rooms at the back of the church. The program includes 40 hours of written work, 20 hours of skills practice and 25 hours of hands-on clinical experience. Students perform their clinical work at Little Sisters of the Poor home for the elderly in Denver.

Carol Martinez was a volunteer at Little Sisters of the Poor when she was introduced to the CNA training program, and she wants to become an LPN. She says she would like to work in a hospital or clinic. Nikhila Chilajuri wants to be a doctor. She says her CNA training will help her get the clinical experience she needs to do so. America, she says, is very friendly.

Zelalem Chale did field work in public health in Ethiopia, and compares public health here and there. He completed his CNA training as a first step toward further medical studies. He hopes to one day quit his job at a local gas station and work in a hospital instead.

Josephina Martinez was laid off from her job with a local Toyota dealership and decided to train as a CNA. She says she found her calling and wants to work for a hospice organization or in a hospital.

Kerry Dargen says she just wants to help people. Her goal is to combine a nursing degree with her ten yeas of experience as a massage therapist to help people feel better.

Underwriting for the courses comes from the Caring for Colorado Foundation, a health grantmaking foundation promoting healthcare access statewide in Colorado. CFC President and CEO Chris Wiant says while the nation is focused on health care reform, and health coverage, one must focus at the same time on ways to provide care once more people have coverage. "St. Luke's Ministry is a program that both supports and enhances our healthcare workforce, and addresses poverty and education issues at the same time; those issues are also indicators of good health," Wiant said. "We have been thrilled to provide grant dollars to this program."

Nationwide, the country is facing a critical shortage of nurses and nurse aides. The demand for this course reflects that. The number of classes held annually has doubled, from four to eight, and class size has increased from 10 to 13 students. Program Director Roger Swier says he gets about 100 calls for enrollment for each class. For Roger, he says graduation is "pay day" to see both the achievement and happiness of the students.

At a time when most industries are declining as a result of the economic recession, the healthcare sector has become a driving force for employment stability and even growth in many regions across the country. A CNA's wages can be more than double the minimum wage -- $15-$16 dollars per hour.