Vanyce joined the African American Christian Foundation (AACF) Illinois Youth Investment Program (IYIP) last summer after her mother encountered information about the program on social media. Vanyce had just returned home from the hospital after the premature birth of her son, where he would spend six months in the NICU. With two daughters at home she was now a mother of three young children and she felt uncertain about how to support her family and how to begin a career, which was what she wanted to do. Vanyce described life as feeling “very unstable” and that she felt “very lost” during this time. She felt that she knew what she wanted to do, which was to have a career and support her family, but that she “didn’t know what steps to take” with her baby son in the hospital NICU.
Seeing free job training and certification opportunities in healthcare provided by the AACF Youth Employment Program, Vanyce followed the link in the social media post that her mother had encountered and attended the AACF virtual information session. She was directed from the information session to submit documentation to join the program and then she began the youth employment workshop where she received job readiness training, resume building, interviewing skills, and financial literacy training.
Vanyce attended the AACF Youth Employment Workshop in person. Vanyce was grateful for the workshop leader who “did a really good job at creating a safe space for her generation.” She felt empowered to “speak about her experiences and obtain what she needed to learn about herself,” being previously “a little too hard on herself,” and to learn “not to rush things and stay on the right track.”
During the Youth Employment Workshop Vanyce was matched with a case manager at AACF. Working with her case manager she applied to the Northwestern Memorial (NM) Hospital Basic Nursing Assistant (BNA) program. She was accepted to the program which was funded by AACF. According to Vanyce “the Northwestern Memorial Hospital BNA training program was amazing!” giving her a lot of experience working in a hospital. It was “hard work, but easy to follow.”
A New Career
The NWM BNA training program instructors did an amazing job, teaching content, test-taking skills and organization, easing anxiety and helping Vanyce to focus more, graduating with a 4.0 in her class. Taking the advice of her instructor, she immediately registered and took the CNA licensing exam and passed, earning her CNA Certificate. With the help of her AACF case manager Vanyce began submitting job applications. One of which was for a Patient Care Technician (PCT) role at the NM Hospital, where she was invited for an interview and was offered the position. The role of PCT has more responsibilities than CNA, requires additional certification - Vanyce will receive Phlebotomy training and certification through NM - and garners higher pay. Vanyce is very excited to begin her new role as PCT at NM Hospital this week, on the very floor where she did her clinicals in the training program. Fully aware of the NM tuition reimbursement program of up to $10,000 towards tuition per year, Vanyce already has plans to pursue her BSN Bachelor’s of Science of Nursing while she works as PCT, diving right into the field.
Vanyce is very grateful for the opportunities provided to pursue her career in healthcare, receiving BNA training, earning her CNA certification, receiving transportation assistance in the form of gas cards to commute to training at NM Hospital, and for the support, encouragement, and resources provided by her case manager at AACF. We are incredibly proud of Vanyce for her hard work and determination in completing her training, acing the CNA certification exam with flying colors, and landing a great job within a month of earning her license. Incredible job Vanyce, and good luck in your new healthcare career!