Not only did the program provide Ginn with the free tuition and bus passes she needed to complete her seven-week program, it also prepared her to get a job. It applied for her to go to its partner organization Dress for Success, which outfitted her with uniforms, shoes, and a suit for interviews.
Currently, CCAC has more than 600 individuals enrolled in one of the program’s nine medical career paths. To qualify, applicants need only be Allegheny County residents, pass a criminal background check, and meet the income guidelines.
Because the grant is designed to test how much the wrap-around services contribute to achieving the goal of moving people to self-sufficiency, once individuals are approved, Tedder said, they are randomly assigned either to the control group—eligible for Pell grants which pay for the classes—or the treatment group, which receives the more intensive case management services.
“I call it the ‘gold card,’” she said.
Ginn agrees. After two months, she was able to put down $2,500 on a car, can pay all her bills, and can put money away for emergencies.
“This program got me to Mercy, and they gave me this opportunity to shine. This is about stepping up—not just in a job, but in life. Now, if my daughter needs glasses or has to see a dentist I can do that,” she said. “I tell everybody about this because I can’t thank CCAC enough, and I hope they can reach the ears of those who claim they have nowhere to go—because they do.”
(For more information on available career tracks, income eligibility and to the apply for the program, visit https://www.ccac.edu/HPOG.aspx.)
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