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.”
