TRC receives $1.1 million Department of Labor grant

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Three Rivers College was awarded a $1.1 million federal grant Monday for the creation of a program that will help about 300 unemployed area residents open the door to a new career in health care.

The funding is part of $500 million in grants announced by the U.S. Department of Labor that will enable community colleges around the country to target training and workforce development of economically dislocated workers who are changing careers, according to a news release from the agency.

Missouri's 12 community colleges that partnered with Linn State Technical College will receive a combined nearly $20 million over three years through the consortium, Missouri Healthcare Workforce Innovation Network, as part of the effort.

"The idea of the program is to provide training at no cost so that people become employable in a high need area," said Three Rivers Dr. Wes Payne, vice president for learning.

The consortium focuses on health services and health sciences, which are targeted under the Missouri Strategic Initiative for Economic Growth. They believe these will provide immediate and long-term employment in relatively high-wage jobs.

Three Rivers' program will train and help students become certified as patient care aides, certified nursing assistants, level-one medication aides, certified medication technicians and insulin administration technicians.

A start up date and criteria for enrollment have not been set yet because the college has not received an official grant award notification, Payne said.

Work will be done to get classes started as soon as possible, he continued.

One innovative component of the program is that it will include reme- dial education when needed, Payne said.

"If a student is in need of developing reading, math or science skills for instance, we will integrate that into what they are interested in, without having to take them out of their path for remedial classes," said Payne, adding a high school diploma is not prerequisite to enroll.

College officials believe these certificate areas will serve as the front part of a stackable program.

Students may choose to take the skills they learn now and apply them toward more advanced degrees, explained nursing instructor Sandy Ficke, who helped apply for this grant. Students also will be provided with supplemental instruction and career guidance such as how to build a resume and prepare for an interview.

"We are giving them an entry point and basic health care skills they can use to establish a good paying job and if they want to build on those skill sets, they can," Ficke said.

This program is perfect for this area, she said, given the high demand for health care services and the economic challenges facing families.

"It gets people back on their feet while giving them the skills they need to get a better job," Ficke said.

The three-year grant is expected to create four new positions at Three Rivers: a program director, two faculty spots and one career mentor.

The funding announced Monday is part of the Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training initiative, for which the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act included a total of $2 billion over a four-year period, according to the Department of Labor.

Pertinent address:

2080 Three Rivers Blvd., Cape Girardeau, MO