In Athens, Georgia: Training personal care providers through schools and back-to-work programs

By Susannah Flanigan, Director of Community Education Services, Athens Technical College

After taking care of my Dad in Florida for 10 days, I realized that it was not necessary to be a CNA to provide that level of home care. Then when I heard about the Personal Care Attendant Training Program, it clicked. I knew it was needed. My Dad needed that kind of care and someday I would need it too. After studying the materials, I decided to offer the course as a complement to our CNA program.

I found out that one of our local elementary schools had a $5000 grant to provide education for parents. They decided to use the money to present home health training using the Personal Care Attendant Training Program. Parents who attended the course received their training after school while their children were in day care, and became qualified to get a job in homes or assisted living facilities. That class was so successful that another one is scheduled for February 2006.

I am finding that there are many ways to offer this training within the community. Athens Technical College will offer the course through “New Connections to Work” which provides training to TANF/public welfare recipients. Since much of the material is also available in Spanish, we are exploring the possibility of a bi-lingual class. We are also talking to some of our local high schools about offering this program for students wanting an introduction to health care, who prefer not to work in institutional settings.

It’s logical to add this type of training as a beginning step on the health care ladder. I believe it should be taught in high schools. This home care training provides a great introduction to health care in general and teaches skills that are valuable when dealing with medical issues, general health care and safety in everyday life.

As you can see, I am committed to developing opportunities for learning and training in a field that will directly affect the quality of life for family, friends, community and myself. There is a huge and growing need for personal and home care aides to provide home-based services. This program is ideal for training individuals providing care in the home or those seeking employment with home care agencies.