Program Briefing

Background
I-LEAD’s Vocational ESL and Nurse Aid Program grew out of two fundamental demographic trends affecting Pennsylvania and other states. First is the rapid growth in the population of senior citizens in need of direct care. Pennsylvania now has the second largest population of retirees in the nation. Second is the rapidly increasing Latino population. The Latino community is the fastest growing population group in Pennsylvania today. Together, these trends have sharply increased the need for direct care workers such as specially trained Certified Nurse Aides. The need is acute for direct care workers who are culturally and linguistically competent.

Program Elements
I-LEAD’s program targets citizens and legal residents with a high school degree or GED. The program assesses the English Language skills of the participants to determine that they are sufficient to benefit from the program, and at the same time, not so strong that program would be unnecessary. Applicants who can benefit from the program participate in an eighty-four (84) hour course that helps them master the specific English language skills required to work effectively as a Certified Nurse Aide. Upon completion of this program element, participants proceed to a one hundred sixty (160) hour Certified Nurse Aide Program that qualifies them to sit for the Pennsylvania Certified Nurse Aide Exam. Upon passing the exam, participants are ready to work as Certified Nurse Aides in a variety of health care settings, including especially long term care facilities, where their services are greatly in demand. I-LEAD provides each participant with mentoring, program coordination, and placement services. The program also includes a bioterrorism preparedness component specially designed by I-LEAD through a grant from the Centers for Disease Control.

Program Benefits
Program participants are eligible for scholarships and financial aid assistance that reduce costs, making participation affordable even for low-income candidates with little or no assets. While a lot of work is required to complete the program, financial resources are no barrier to success thanks to resources made available through the Pennsylvania Department of Aging, the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, and through other federal and state educational funding streams as well as charitable foundations. Program graduates are able to obtain jobs and begin promising careers in the Health Care industry. Program graduates are also able to fill an important need in their communities for bilingual, culturally competent, direct care workers.

Important Information
Participants in this program are required to devote substantial time and effort to complete the training. Candidates must obtain physical health and criminal background clearances required to become a Certified Nurse Aid. Depending upon their financial ability, participants may be required to pay for certain out-of-pocket program costs such as uniforms, exam fees, and required check-ups and related costs for vaccinations. This program is a collaborative effort involving many prominent local partners in participating communities such as the Area Agencies on Aging for Berks and Lehigh Counties, the Reading Centro Hispano, and participating hospitals and long-term care facilities guiding the initiative.

How to Apply
Interested participants should call, write, or stop by I-LEAD’s program Office in Reading Pennsylvania. The program director is Isamac Figueroa (610-624-3712), located at I-LEAD, 540 Penn Street, Reading, PA 19602.

About I-LEAD
I-LEAD is Pennsylvania public charity recognized as tax exempt pursuant to section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. I-LEAD is a school for community leadership development. Our faculty and staff have served Pennsylvania over the past ten years through innovative educational, workforce, and economic development programs targeting challenged and underserved communities. The VESL CNA program has served more than 350 participants with more than 100 graduates over the past two years. More information about I-LEAD and its programs can be found on our website at www.i-lead.org.