“I very much love my job. I haven’t regretted it a single day. If it is something you are interested in doing, don’t hem and haw – just go for it.”
That’s what Rita says about working in a Caring Career. And that’s exactly what she started doing a couple of years ago after a divorce left her at home with seven children, no recent job experience and the need to start working outside the home quickly. She considered taking the first job she could find – but then she connected with Otter Tail County and learned about resources available to help her get on a health care career path.
Otter Tail County's Empowered Worker Program supported her career journey with gas cards, Walmart gift cards for necessities, scrubs for job shadowing and work, individualized workforce and college navigation, a laptop, tuition, books, and school supplies so she could train to become a Nursing Assistant. Her training was funded in part by a Drive for 5 grant.
Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) Drive for 5 grants help fund employment and training programs that prepare Minnesotans for high-demand jobs in five occupational categories: the caring professions, education, manufacturing, technology and the trades.
Rita always knew she wanted to work in health care – and specifically in aging services – and support from Drive for 5 and Otter Tail County helped her get on this in-demand career path.
“My grandma lived with us growing up she was paralyzed from the neck down and ever since then I’ve wanted to work with older people,” says Rita. “Spending time with the elderly isn’t just helpful to them – it’s helpful to the workers caring for them.”
Rita is currently working at a nursing home and in home health care as a Nursing Assistant while raising her family and going to school to become a Registered Nurse (RN). Leading CareerForce Partner Rural Minnesota Concentrated Employment Program (RMCEP) is helping pay her tuition for nursing school, utilizing funding from a DEED Pathways to Prosperity grant.
It's a challenge balancing family, work and school, but Rita is focused on doing it. “You just have to put the time into each thing and still have time for your family but we’re getting through it.”
Rita has a message for others considering a Caring Career but not sure if they can juggle it with their other responsibilities: “If someone is thinking of going into health care, if it’s something they are interested in then go for it – working with the patients and your co-workers it is very rewarding.”
- Find out more about Otter Tail County Empowered Worker Program
- Learn about RMCEP programs and services
- View information about the DEED Drive for 5 grant initiative
- Contact staff at a CareerForce location near you
- Access resources to Celebrate Caring Careers in November
