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September 29, 2005
PRESS RELEASE SUBJECT: Action, Inc.’s HCICP (Health Care Industry Career Program) Graduation 10/4/05 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. The Gloucester House, Seven Seas Wharf Action, Inc.’s Health Care Career Training a Success In December, 2004 Action, Inc. was awarded $200K by the Commonwealth of MA Department of Workforce Development to develop HCICP (Health Care Industry Career Program), a 7 ½ month program developed to train 32 low-income unemployed or underemployed individuals to become Clinical Medical Assistants and obtain employment in the rapidly growing health care field. The state gave only five such grants and Action was the only recipient situated outside of the greater Boston area. The partnership between Action, Inc., a private non-profit organization with a long history of caring for the underserved population of Cape Ann, and Millennium, a for-profit training institute with other school locations in Boston and Woburn, has shown early success and positive results, having already placed over 85% of its students in clinical externships. On October 4th sixteen women ranging in age from 20 to 55 graduated and received Clinical Medical Assistant certificates. Students are presently completing their externships in several medical practices on Cape Ann and the North Shore. Participating medical practices include Cape Ann Pediatrics, Cape Ann Medical Center, Gloucester Chiropractic & Rehabilitation, Beverly Pediatric Associates, The Medical Group, and Northeast Health Systems’ Center for Health Aging. Night classes for 16 additional students begin on October 6th and the program is scheduled to wind down in June 2006. “We hope to secure additional funding to continue offering health care career training programs”, said Patty Bongiorno, Career Development Coordinator at Action, Inc. Action’s Single Moms Benefit from Career Development Program at Action, Inc. Lori Keyes of Rockport was working part-time as a homemaker making $10 an hour with no benefits. As a single mother with two children aged 8 and 13 she needed a stable job that offered health insurance for her and her family. She enrolled in Action, Inc.’s Health Care Industry Career Program this past February and trained as a Clinical Medical Assistant for entry into the health care field. “The supportive environment of Action helped me learn how to balance school life and home life and it helped instill in my children the importance of education. I realized that, even as a single mother, I still have the ability to learn and to achieve.” Lori celebrated her graduation from Action’s Health Care Industry Career Program on October 4th. She is in the process of completing her externship at Northeast Health Systems’ Hunt Center for Healthy Aging in Danvers and she is planning on enrolling in North Shore Community College’s Radiology Technician Program. Misty Amero of Gloucester, also a single mother with children ages 4 and 6, previously worked as a flight attendant and, after having two children, worked as a private care CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant). When her elderly client passed away last year and she found herself suddenly unemployed, she learned about Action’s training program through the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission. On October 4th Misty graduated and received her CMA certificate. While working as an extern at Family Medicine Associates, a busy medical group practice in Manchester, she was offered a position there as a Medical Assistant. She is also enrolled in North Shore Community College’s Health Options Preparatory Program that helps prepare students for entry into the college’s nursing program. CONTACT: Patty Bongiorno Career Development Coordinator 978 281-7402 pattyjobs@yahoo.com |
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