Stepping Up program offers hope, training and jobs

The highly-regarded Stepping Up program, a health care career ladder program led by the UNAP/RI Hospital Health Care Education Trust and Women & Infants Hospital, has achieved significant success helping unemployed Rhode Islanders and entry-level health care workers obtain education and training leading to a job and career in health care.

In just three years, Stepping Up has provided pre-employment training, career counseling, and academic advising to 128 community residents (87 of whom have obtained jobs), and over 175 entry-level hospital employees who have returned to school to pursue a degree as a Registered Nurse or other health professional.

At a recent Stepping Up graduation ceremony held at RI Hospital, graduate Clara Ricks said, "“I moved to the United States from Liberia in January 2010.  I had no job, no resources and lived in someone else’s apartment.  Now, I have a job as a Patient Care Attendant at Rhode Island Hospital.  I have my own apartment, and I am taking courses to be able to enter a CNA program.”

Stepping Up has recently been publicly recognized for its efforts by Providence Mayor-elect Angel Taveras, Woonsocket Mayor Leo Fontaine, Rhode Island Foundation President & CEO Neil Steinberg, Women & Infants President & CEO Constance Howes, and Landmark Medical Center President & CEO Richard Charest, as well as in the Providence Business News, Woonsocket Call, and the 2010 Women & Infants Philanthropy Report.

If you are interested in becoming a Stepping Up Mentor, click here.