Ed. grants assist unemployed
Kirsten Adams
Issue date: 3/12/09 Section: News
Unemployed workers in and near Hillsdale can receive up to two years of tuition from No Worker Left Behind, a program established last year by Gov. Jennifer Granholm.
The program provides help for unemployed workers through service and "One Stop" centers in Hillsdale and Jackson counties. The centers provide assessment, GED preparation and remedial educational services for those hoping to receive the newly available grants.
South Central Michigan Works, a state-run employment agency, administers the NWLB funds locally. Christine Quinn, SCMW president, said she believes the best aspect of NWLB is its ability to provide funds and education to unskilled workers who would be unable to find other employment without it.
"No Worker Left Behind is an opportunity to access funds to help build skills, gain new skills and refocus into new careers in growth and demand occupations," Quinn said.
Beth Rubley of Reading, Mich., visited the SCMW service center to inquire about employment after she lost her job as a bank teller last year. After reviewing career options and an employment assessment, Rubley decided to enter health care, and entered training at Premier Medical Academy to become a patient care specialist.
Four months after her visit to the SCMW service center, Rubley completed her training on a NWLB grant and accepted a position with the Hillsdale Medical Care Facility.
"I am thrilled every day to go to work, utilizing my training while doing something I love." Rubley said. "I feel as if I am making a difference in people's lives."
Many of the workers who go through the SCMW service centers are not used to traditional education, so SCMW employs private contractors to help them adjust to the classroom setting.
Melissa LaCombe, assistant director of the Hillsdale branch of Jackson Community College, said that the school provides up to $5,000 per year for two years for workers with the NWLB program.
In order to qualify, students must be unemployed or have a yearly income of less than $40,000, be more than 18 years old, cannot have graduated from high school within the past two years and cannot be full-time college students.
The program hopes to eventually help 10,000 unemployed workers find jobs.
"The biggest challenge we currently have is the capacity of our education and training partners and lack of open-entry courses," Quinn said.
The program provides help for unemployed workers through service and "One Stop" centers in Hillsdale and Jackson counties. The centers provide assessment, GED preparation and remedial educational services for those hoping to receive the newly available grants.
South Central Michigan Works, a state-run employment agency, administers the NWLB funds locally. Christine Quinn, SCMW president, said she believes the best aspect of NWLB is its ability to provide funds and education to unskilled workers who would be unable to find other employment without it.
"No Worker Left Behind is an opportunity to access funds to help build skills, gain new skills and refocus into new careers in growth and demand occupations," Quinn said.
Beth Rubley of Reading, Mich., visited the SCMW service center to inquire about employment after she lost her job as a bank teller last year. After reviewing career options and an employment assessment, Rubley decided to enter health care, and entered training at Premier Medical Academy to become a patient care specialist.
Four months after her visit to the SCMW service center, Rubley completed her training on a NWLB grant and accepted a position with the Hillsdale Medical Care Facility.
"I am thrilled every day to go to work, utilizing my training while doing something I love." Rubley said. "I feel as if I am making a difference in people's lives."
Many of the workers who go through the SCMW service centers are not used to traditional education, so SCMW employs private contractors to help them adjust to the classroom setting.
Melissa LaCombe, assistant director of the Hillsdale branch of Jackson Community College, said that the school provides up to $5,000 per year for two years for workers with the NWLB program.
In order to qualify, students must be unemployed or have a yearly income of less than $40,000, be more than 18 years old, cannot have graduated from high school within the past two years and cannot be full-time college students.
The program hopes to eventually help 10,000 unemployed workers find jobs.
"The biggest challenge we currently have is the capacity of our education and training partners and lack of open-entry courses," Quinn said.
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