Quinsigamond Community College Graduates 28 in 1st TRAIN Program

Friday, July 21, 2017

GoLocalWorcester News Team

Quinsigamond Community College (QCC) graduated 28 students as part of their first TRAIN (Training Resources and Internship Networks) Program.

The graduates completed a Nursing Assistant/Home Health Aide course that helped to prepare them to take the Red Cross test and become Certified Nursing Assistants.

The graduation ceremony was held in June for all three of the six-week classes that began in January, March and May.

TRAIN

TRAIN is a pilot program overseen by the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education (MDHE), in partnership with the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development.

The program is in response to the staggering percentage of long-term unemployment in the Commonwealth (34.6 percent in a 2014 survey by the Bureau of Labor Statistics).

The program focuses on the occupational and readiness skills individuals will need to assist them in returning to the workforce in industries such as healthcare, advanced manufacturing, computer science/information technology, life sciences and/or financial services.

“It’s all about timing. They (participants) have to be ready to make a shift and they have to want to make a difference for their lives and their families. We keep checking in with them and motivating them, but they have to be ready to change,” said Program Coordinator Jo Sundin.

QCC was awarded a $200,000 grant from MDHE to implement the program.

To qualify for the TRAIN program, participants have to be under-employed or unemployed for at least a year.

Chosen participants were given assistance and support through a Worcester Downtown Connect network that included comprehensive case management, individualized service plans, skills training and employment related services, in addition to financial literacy assistance through Worcester Credit Union, as well as transportation, childcare stipends and a weekly salary through Worcester Community Action Council.

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