Stepping Up Recognizes Graduates from Health Care Career Exploration Training Program

Ten motivated Northern Rhode Island residents celebrated their recent completion of the Stepping Up Health Care Career Orientation Program at a graduation ceremony on Wednesday at the ’ (CCF) Chaplin-Perez Community Center. On hand to salute the graduates were U.S. Senator Jack Reed and Woonsocket Mayor Leo T. Fontaine.

Stepping Up is an innovative career ladders program that provides training, education, career coaching, and support services for entry-level health care workers and for Rhode Island community residents. The graduates shared their inspirational stories and future aspirations at the ceremony that marked the completion of three 12- week programs. 

“We started our Stepping Up classes in October," said Kristin Reynolds from CCF. "My own self-esteem and confidence started slowly improving as I have learned so much about the health care field, the jobs available, first aid, and had a lot of fun doing it! I now have the confidence to present a strong resume and have successful interviews. Classes flew by and our teachers were great! ”

Terese Curtin, Executive Director of CCF stated, “We are so proud and pleased to be involved in this workforce development initiative.  It’s exciting that four of our students have already gained full time employment, and another has enrolled in classes at CCRI to further her education.”

The Stepping Up graduates attended seven weeks of health care career exploration classes at both , and Connecting for Children and Families. The students then went on to complete five weeks of related internships at Mount St Rita Health Centre, Hebert Nursing Home, Homefront Health Care, and Landmark Medical Center.  At these health care facilities, participants had the opportunity to learn about the working environment and demonstrate their skills and motivation to the potential employers. 

Of the January graduates, two  have been hired in full time administrative positions at Homefront, one student has been placed at Rhode Island Hospital in the Food & Nutrition Department, one student is working in a residential facility, and another at Northern Rhode Island Community Services.  The remaining students will continue to receive career counseling and job search assistance. Nancy Paradee, Deputy Executive Director of Family Resources Community Action contends that “the Stepping Up program provides clients an opportunity to learn new skills which ultimately change their lives”. 

Since its launch in September 2007, Stepping Up has provided neighborhood pipeline residents with 191 internships. Seventy percent of Stepping Up graduates are employed within six months of graduation.  In partnership with CCRI, Stepping Up has also assisted 327 entry-level incumbent healthcare employees to continue their professional growth by attending CCRI courses in pursuit of challenging and meaningful work in high growth, high demand jobs.  The program is a project of the UNAP/RI Hospital Health Care Education Trust and Women & Infants Hospital, in partnership with other health care employers, unions, community organizations, education providers, and funders.  Aime Brissette, Executive Director of the program maintains that “the graduation ceremonies are always inspirational; they remind us why we do what we do.”  Stepping Up will celebrate its 5 year anniversary this summer.