Community Education program brochures Metro North ABE - Consortium newsletter, Feb. 2016 | Page 5

PCA certificate and became CPR/First
Aid certified. Several plan to continue
their education in the healthcare pathway, while others will seek employment
as a PCA.

eight rounds of Healthcare Pathways
completed, more than 100 participants
have earned their NAR (Nursing Assistant Register). Employment placement
in the field is over 90%.

Personal Care Attendant
This past summer, a group of nine students attended a Personal Care Attendant (PCA) and Pre- Certified Nursing
Assistant (CAN) class offered at
Handke Center through the Elk River
ABE program. Course topics included
medical terminology, roles and responsibilities of a PCA/CNA, and hands-on
training in blood pressure readings and
taking other vitals, as well as touring a
nursing home and hearing from professionals who are employed in the healthcare field. Seven students earned the

County Workforce Center at the Blaine
Learning Lab, where Plemel took her
ABE classes. She now serves a private
family as a Home Health Care Aide, and
was just hired as a substitute CNA at
Crestview Senior Communities in Columbia Heights. Between the two jobs,
Plemel is able to work flexible hours
while earning a livable wage to support
her family.

“We were able to give our kids a great
Christmas this year,” Plemel said. “My
family isn’t on public assistance anymore – and we are getting closer and
closer to standing on our own two feet.”

Her exceptional efforts have also earned

Office and Administrative Technology
The newest pathway, Office and Administrative Technology, provides 30 hours
of bridge training and 80 hours of integrated training to prepare learners for
careers in office support. Learners have
the opportunity to earn a Microsoft Office Certificate in Word and Excel.
Learners also complete an internship
with local employers. After the first
three rounds of programming, more
than 45 people have earned at least one
certificate, and the placement rate in the
field is just over 90%.
Precision Sheet Metal
The Precision Sheet Metal program supports cohorts learners who participate in
a shop math class to refresh their basic
skills, followed by nearly 100 hours of
hands-on learning in the manufacturing
lab at ATC. At the end of each training
round, the graduation event includes
local employers that not only attend the

ceremony, but also set up interviews for
graduates. This program has run 15
rounds of programming to prepare people for careers in manufacturing.

Incumbent Worker Training:
Manufacturing Basics
Manufacturing Basics for incumbent
workers is a new project developed in
partnership with seven local employers,
the WFC, ATC, and with the support of
the Anoka County WDB. This training
will allow one or two people per employer to receive training to prepare
entry-level incumbent workers for more
advanced positions in their respective
companies. This class will launch in
January 2016 for its first round.

These partnership-driven programs are
the cornerstone of providing a wellrounded set of education and training
opportunities to the community served
by Metro North ABE. For more information about any of these programs, to
volunteer, become a participant, or learn
how your business can get involved,
please contact Patrick Hobot at
763.576.7845.

her the Robert Sorman Scholarship to be
awarded on Feb. 4, 2016 at the Blaine
Learning Lab. This scholarship is presented to a learner each quarter who
demonstrates outstanding personal and
educational progress or improvements
and plans to pursue additional education
or training.

Plemel’s journey is only one of the success stories brought about by the implementation of the Healthcare Pathways
program. Plemel’s personal goals and
education have not only had positive effects for her family, but for her community, as well.

Metro North Adult Basic Education | Ph: 763-783-4870 | www.MetroNorthABE.org

FEBRUARY 2016

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