United Helpers Receives Grant to Train More than 70 CNAs for Careers with UH

CANTON – Thanks to funding from the Workforce Development Board’s Rural Healthcare Grant program, dozens of students will be able to enroll in United Helpers’ Certified Nursing Assistant training program tuition-free. 

The grant, which totals $144,000, will cover the $2,000 tuition cost for up to 72 students who enroll in the program through 2023. The classes are offered on a regular basis at United Helpers Rehabilitation and Senior Care in Canton, with a new class starting soon. 

CNA students can be hired as United Helpers employees before their training begins. Students often work as Task Aides while enrolled in the CNA class, meaning they are earning income while working to earn their CNA Certification. 

The benefit of this tuition-free training on site at United Helpers is that CNA students learn and train right in the facility where they will be working—becoming comfortable finding locations and services within the building, familiar with the residents and their families, and thoroughly ready to “hit the ground running” upon earning their CNA Certification. 

Once certified, they always have the benefit of being able to circle back to their CNA instructor, who is a fellow UH employee, with any questions. 

United Helpers CNAs start out earning $15 per hour. 

“It’s no secret that making time for career training isn’t an easy thing to do, and sometimes due to financial constraints, it’s not even possible,” said United Helpers Rehabilitation and Senior Care Vice President of Operations Timothy Parsons. “This program, though, allows students to further their education and earn income to support their families at the same time.” 

United Helpers Vice President of Human Resources, Michelle Matthews, who herself began her career as a CNA, said that becoming a CNA can be a lifelong career or the first stepping stone in a career with nearly endless possibilities.

“I was still in high school when I became a CNA,” she said. “Now more than 25 years later, I am still working for United Helpers. Although no longer providing patient care, I would not be where I am professionally today if it weren’t for those years of working as a CNA.” 

Students interested in enrolling in this tuition-free course, may fill out an application online at www.unitedhelpers.org/employment or contact human resources at (315) 276-6413 for further information. 

To qualify for this train-on-the-job opportunity, aspiring CNAs must: 

• be at least 18

• have a minimum of 6 months of full-time work experience 

• be vaccinated against COVID-19 and show proof, or have a legitimate medical exemption with appropriate documentation 

• be unemployed or underemployed in a low-wage or part-time job 

“We are grateful to the Workforce Development Board for this grant, which will not only help to better the lives of those who take the class, but also the people in our care,” said United Helpers Vice President of Development Christa Carroll. “By greatly reducing training costs for our new CNAs, we are able to provide this opportunity to dozens of people from around St. Lawrence County who will see their lives enhanced because of it.”

United Way Grant Helps Fund CNA Classes

OGDENSBURG – A grant from the United Way of Northern New York will help dozens of new hires and already employed Task Aides become Certified Nursing Aides (CNAs) through training provided at United Helpers Rehabilitation and Senior Care in either Canton or Ogdensburg. 

New CNA Dawn Baber assists Mary Brayton.

The $7,000 grant was awarded to United Helpers to help with the costs of materials and supplies for six on-site CNA training courses, covering up to 96 students.

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of January’s CNA training course; however, two classes were held in March, with seven students from Canton and four students from Ogdensburg earning their CNA certification.

A second round of classes is ongoing, and additional classes are planned throughout the year. 

Anna Stout & Alyvia Stott work together to roll a mannequin.

Rehabilitation and Senior Care Canton Vice President of Operations Timothy Parsons wrote the grant on behalf of the two facilities, while serving in the same capacity for Rehabilitation and Senior Care in Ogdensburg.

Becoming a CNA requires training, classroom learning, and certification. The Certified Nurse Aide is a paraprofessional member of the health care team who works under direct supervision of a licensed nurse.

A typical day for a Certified Nurse Aide may include answering patient call bells, delivering messages, serving meals, making beds, assisting residents with meals, and dressing and bathing. Aides may provide skin care, take temperatures, pulse, and respiration, and assist residents with walking or getting in and out of bed. Certified Nurse Aides observe patients' mental, physical, and emotional conditions and report changes to the nursing and medical staff. 

Candace Ouellette studies for her CNA exam.

If you are interested in becoming a CNA in either Canton or Ogdensburg, please visit, www.unitedhelpers.org/apply to submit an application for the next on-site class.

To learn more about the United Way of Northern New York, please visit www.unitedway-nny.org.

Spies Award Winners Honored

 

OGDENSBURG – As an organization, United Helpers employs well over 1,000 people. Each year, three of them are recognized as winners of the Margaret R. Spies Award.

“The award is only given to three employees, out of more than 1,000,” said United Helpers CEO Stephen E. Knight during a zoom meeting where the awards were presented. “It’s safe to say we’re recognizing the best of the best.”

“The best of the best” is also a phrase often used by Ann Spies to describe her mother, Margaret, for whom the award is named. Ms. Spies created the honor in memory of Margaret, a one-time resident of what is now United Helpers Rehabilitation and Senior Care in Ogdensburg, as a way to honor and recognize direct care staff, such as those who cared for her mom.

This year’s awards went to Amber Evans, a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) in Ogdensburg, Crystal Klimowicz, a CNA in Canton, and Sherry Friot, a Direct Support Professional (DSP) from the Lisbon IRA, each of whom were nominated by their peers for the honor.

Timothy Parsons, who serves as Vice President of Operations in Ogdensburg where Ms. Evans works, said he was pleased to see her selected for the honor. 

Timothy Parsons, Amber Evans, & Marie Woods

"I am so happy for Amber,” he said. “She has been nominated several times by her co-workers over the past few years indicating that she is clearly one of our best CNAs.”

Mr. Parsons also had no shortage of stories to share when citing examples of things that make Ms. Evans a great CNA, but perhaps the most telling example wasn’t even included in her nomination packet.

“While we were accepting nominations, I received an unsolicited phone call from the daughter of a resident who had recently passed away,” Mr. Parsons said. “They wanted to make me aware of how special Amber was and what she meant to the resident and their family. They told me that their mother was so close with Amber that on more than one occasion she called Amber by her daughter’s name.”

The fact that Ms. Klimowicz was selected as Canton’s recipient is something that came as a surprise to no one, said Canton’s Vice President of Operations Kimberly Blair, who recalled a conversation with Ms. Klimowicz’s immediate supervisor. 

Kimberly Blair, Crystal Klimowicz, & Jessica Barr

“I spoke with her supervisor yesterday and she said that even before Crystal was a CNA, when she was working as a task aide, she knew she was going to shine,” Mrs. Blair recalled.

Citing another example, Mrs. Blair reflected on Ms. Klimowicz’s work as a mentor to other CNAs even before she was officially a part of the building’s mentoring program.

“She has helped us train new employees without being recognized or compensated for many weeks until she was able to attend mentor training,” Mrs. Blair said, reading from a nomination submitted by Robin L. Leonard, who oversees the building’s mentoring program.

Ms. Friot is one of the most impressive DSPs that her Program Leader Brady Dullea says he’s ever seen. 

Brady Dullea, Sherry Friot, & Michele Montroy

“In all my time working with OPWDD (Office for People with Developmental Disabilities) programs, I have never met anyone with all the abilities she has,” Mr. Dullea said. “There is no one who better embodies, ‘Always Caring.’ She never has an off day.”

Mr. Dullea said the opportunity has even arisen several times for Ms. Friot to be promoted to a supervisory position, but each time she politely declines, noting she doesn’t want to give up the level of involvement with direct care she enjoys now.

“Despite declining leadership positions, Sherry has never shied away from taking control when times get tough,” he said. “She has successfully handled many difficult situations, not because she wants to step up and take charge, but because she wants the best outcomes for the people living and working in the house.”

Each year since 2001 the Margaret R. Spies Awards has been presented to three employees — one each from United Helpers Rehabilitation & Senior Care in Ogdensburg, United Helpers Rehabilitation & Senior Care in Canton and United Helpers Behavioral Health & Life Skills — who embody the most desirable qualities in direct care staff: dedication to the people they care for and a willingness to go above and beyond expectations.  Nominations for the honor come from fellow United Helpers employees.

A plaque that lists the names of all the Spies Awards recipients hangs at United Helpers Rehabilitation & Senior Care in Ogdensburg.

To view video from this year's presentation, which was held via Zoom, please visit... https://zoom.us/rec/play/vcYkf-2op2g3SdSQ5ASDC6N9W426LqOs0XIa_6IEmEnhVXEGYVGhZ7sUZ-K_dKg4KszXBiA1Sk1tiOJG?startTime=1597165386000

Growing Strong Roots Mentoring Program Launched at Maplewood, RiverLedge

CANTON - Roughly 10 veteran CNAs from both our Maplewood and RiverLedge skilled nursing facilities will become mentors through the newly launched Growing Strong Roots program.

A veteran CNA works with a new hire at Maplewood.

"It's a CNA mentorship program designed to help us with employee retention," said Maplewood Staff Development Assistant Robin Leonard, who led the effort to bring the program to United Helpers.

"This program is designed to help new CNAs, not just with their skills, but also with social aspects of life in the workplace," she said.

Veteran CNAs who are selected as mentors will be recognized and received additional compensation for their efforts, but the program isn't meant for people just seeking out a raise.

"Applicants have to have good attendance, good job performance and submit recommendations from their supervisor, as well as a peer," Ms. Leonard said, adding once a CNA becomes a mentor, there is no guarantee they will continue to be a part of the program.

"After about a month the mentor will evaluate the orientees and vice versa," she said, explaining "Mentors will be evaluated based on their performance as mentors to ensure the programs stays meaningful."

Prior to becoming a mentor those selected to participate in the program will undergo a one day training session.

"Some of our highest turnover rates are among our CNAs and obviously we want to reduce that," Ms. Leonard said. "One of the main reasons people tell us for leaving is that they "didn't feel a connection.'" This program is designed to give people a connection and introduce them to someone who will befriend them and not just act as a trainer."

Ms. Leonard said mentors will spread out across all shifts to ensure each new hire is given time with a mentor regardless of when they work.