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Chaz and Stephanie are the definition of a power couple. Motivated to provide for their growing family, they took a chance towards a new career by applying for the HEART Project , Turtle Mountain Community College’s (TMCC) Health Profession Opportunity Grant (HPOG) program. With the HEART Project’s assistance, they both obtained certification as Phlebotomy Technicians and associate degrees in Medical Laboratory Science.

Rapid City, SD

HPOG helped Salome find successful career despite her major health challenges

Salome grew up on the Pine Ridge Reservation in southwest South Dakota. For many years she took care of her parents, both of whom were on dialysis. She helped administer their medication and made sure they were comfortable and well-looked after. Later in life, Salome herself required dialysis over a period of ten years. While receiving treatment, Salome watched the nurses at work. She admired the confident, respectful, and compassionate way they interacted with patients under their care. This experience stuck with her and influenced her decision to enter the healthcare field.

In 2015, Salome began her education journey by enrolling in the GED program at the Career Learning Center in Rapid City, SD. At times, she was discouraged, unsure if she had what it took to become successful. An instructor noticed her frustrations and introduced her to the Prosperity Initiative. It is a program that strives to move families and individuals, like Salome, in Rapid City from poverty to prosperity. Salome expressed her goal to make something more of herself as well as her desire to enter the healthcare field. They referred her to the Great Plains Tribal Chairmen’s Health Board’s HPOG program, Pathways to Healthcare Professions (PHP) . Soon after Salome’s acceptance into PHP, she started a Certified Nursing Assistant program.

Completing her education proved difficult. Salome had to balance 40 hours of school with dialysis treatments three times a week. Salome was determined to complete her training though and worked out an alternative schedule that allowed her to fulfill her academic requirements. The instructor let her leave early on the days she had dialysis, and worked with her after class on alternate days so she would not fall behind. PHP staff also helped her get to her classes and treatments.

In class, Salome was shy but engaged with the material. She demonstrated an excellent knowledge and understanding of patient care. Her instructors noted her kindness and dedication to caring for others. During clinical rotations, she went the extra mile for patients under her care, such as answering call lights when she was not required to. Salome completed her CNA training in April 2019 and received her GED soon after.

In January 2020, Salome began a Licensed Practical Nurse program at Western Dakota Tech and is on track to become a nurse. Under normal circumstances, Salome’s health and financial challenges might have prevented her from achieving her goals, but her determination, integrity and perseverance kept her focused. The support she received from the PHP HPOG staff further allowed her to excel and helped make her dream a reality.

This success story was self-identified by the grantee and information contained in this document was provided by the grantee.

HPOG Success Story: Salome at Great Plains Tribal Charimen's Health Board (PDF) (PDF)

The past doesn’t determine your path Aliyah grew up in the South Shore neighborhood of Chicago. The area is known as “Terror Town” for the rampant gangs and gun violence that plague the streets. Despite the harsh conditions outside, Aliyah was surrounded by a supportive family. Her grandmother gifted her with these words of wisdom: “It works, if you work it.” Over the years, this mantra guided Aliyah to persevere through adversity and help her achieve her dreams. All she needed was a little assistance, which she found through the HPOG program at Chicago State University, Partnerships to STEP-UP in Health Careers .

The Northwest Ohio Pathway to Healthcare Careers (NOPHC) Health Profession Opportunity Grant (HPOG) program at Zepf Center focuses on helping low-income individuals obtain the education and training needed to pursue a job in the healthcare field. This project also builds upon the community Bridges out of Poverty initiative, which focuses on empowering people to progress out of poverty.

Living in Bridgeport, CT, Nia, a single mom, found herself facing inadequate housing and very limited income. She trained as a licensed practical nurse (LPN), but had trouble finding a LPN job and struggled to make ends meet working as a certified nursing assistant (CNA). Nia was motivated to provide more for her family, and found the help she needed in The WorkPlace’s Health CareeRx Academy . The Health CareeRx Academy is a partnership of healthcare providers, employers, educators, trainers, and community-based organizations in coastal Connecticut that work together to train and prepare Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) recipients and other low-income individuals for employment in healthcare occupations.

In 2017, Rasheda was a certified nursing assistant (CNA) trying to reach her goal of completing her licensed practical nurse (LPN) certification. On top of her prerequisite courses, the single mother of four young children worked 30-35 hours per week. Although she had a good family support system who assisted in caring for her children, she lacked the funding to complete her education.

Shawntray did what most people do who want to make a better life for themselves, she went to school and got a degree. After completing her bachelor’s degree in Psychology, she realized entry-level jobs in her field barely paid enough to cover food and housing. To earn a decent living, she needed a master’s degree. But after racking up $30,000 worth of student loans, the prospect of taking on more debt was not appealing.

As a Temporary Assistance for Needy Families recipient, Audrey qualified to enroll in the Health Careers NW program offered by Worksystems, Inc. Health Careers NW prepares participants for training in healthcare career pathways, supports them through training completion, to help them find careers that offer family-sustaining employment. While working at the Portland Airport to make ends meet, Audrey began her journey to becoming a medical assistant (MA) in 2018.

Victoria’s journey began at Penn Valley Community College’s Registered Nurse Program in Kansas City, Missouri. Her college career faltered when she had her first child and needed employment. She thought her dream of working in the healthcare field was over until she came across the School of Phlebotomy website. Victoria was thrilled they offered weekend Medical Assistant programs that worked with her schedule.

Victoria came to the Full Employment Council and met with the Healthcare Coordinator. Victoria applied for and was accepted into the Missouri Healthcare Industry Training and Education (HITE) program. She immediately enrolled in the Medical Assistant program. She never missed a day of school and fell in love all over again with healthcare. HITE helped Victoria through her training by paying for her tuition, providing scrubs, a stethoscope, blood pressure cuff and transportation assistance.

Greg worked as a Customer Service Representative in a call center housed in the same building as GoodCare , Goodwill Industries of the Valley’s Health Professions Opportunity Grants (HPOG) program office. He met Rick and Jeana, GoodCare staff who told him about the program. They explained that participants received academic and financial support to pursue a career in healthcare. Later, when faced with unemployment, Greg remembered their offer to help him find a new career path. Greg was concerned because he felt he did not possess any marketable job skills. He also was a recovering addict. Nevertheless, he knew he needed to make a change and was committed.