Workforce Investment Opportunity Act Funds Staff Development

Bethesda received a grant from the Workforce Investment Opportunity Act (WIOA) funded by the Department of Labor (Federal Program), which helps subsidize our staff development training programs up to $4,000 per student for their tuition and educational supplies. WIOA awarded $21,000 to help Bethesda educate and purchase supplies (scrubs, stethoscope, etc.) for seven employees aspiring to become Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA). In November, Bethesda graduated its second class of students who recently sat for the CNA state exam (pictured are the recent graduates of the CNA training Program). A third CNA training program will take place the first quarter of this year.

Bethesda’s CNA training program is part of a larger staff development initiative that provides entry-level employees a career ladder, allowing them to advance their training and education. Participating employees have the opportunity to advance from being a Certified Nursing Assistant to a Certified Medical Technician, to a Licensed Practical Nurse, and eventually becoming a Registered Nurse. Thanks to generous funding from the Emerson Charitable Trust, which launched this program last year. “Bethesda’s CNA program is attractive because first of all, it’s free for our employees. Employees working in entry-level positions like food service or housekeeping now have an opportunity to learn new skills that allow them to move up within Bethesda,” says Lynn Licklider. Lynn goes on to say, “With additional funds we hope to expand this program to other caregiver positions.”