B1C Congratulates Graduates of Home Health Aide Program

From B1C: Building One Community (B1C) and Norwalk Community College (NCC) congratulated the second graduating class from the organizations’ joint Home Health Aide training program. Diplomas were awarded at a ceremony in NCC’s PepsiCo Theater to 23 graduates representing 11 countries including Guatemala, Haiti, the Ukraine, Morocco and the Philippines.

Fairfield County is home to 25% of Connecticut’s 65+ population and an estimated 43,299 disabled residents under the age of 65. Graduates of the Home Health Aide program will help meet this steady demand for home health work and improve the lives of the elderly and persons with disabilities in their communities. Immigrants comprise one-quarter of the homecare workforce. This training program was launched by B1C and NCC to provide specialized training for immigrant workers and is unique to our area.

Graduates earned certifications in Home Health Aide, Homecare Companion, and CPR/AED/First Aid. Their 170+ hour curriculum included courses on applied homecare skills, Vocational English as a Second Language, customer service and other employability skills, and clinical practice at Greenwich-based River House Adult Day Center. The program is offered with the support of the Norwalk Community College Foundation.
This program was funded through the generosity of the Ohnell Charitable Lead Trust and Linda and Bruce Koe. Their support has helped develop comprehensive educational programming, affording students the opportunity to set themselves on the path toward sustainable employment that will also meet the needs of our local community.

Images Courtesy of B1C