BLACKSBURG – Warm Hearth Village (WHV), and the Health Care Academy of Southwest Virginia recently partnered to create a healthcare education program at the Kroontje Health Care Center (KHCC) of Warm Hearth to train and produce highly skilled in-home and facility caregivers and Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs).
Thanks to grants from New River Mt Rogers Workforce, tuition and material fees were waived. The next seven-week class begins Jan. 15 at KHCC.
Jennifer McKenzie, Administrative Coordinator with Senior Home Share and the Health Care Academy explained that CNAs are still in short supply across the country.
“Local community colleges are no longer offering these classes due to lack of instructors,” she said. “Due to the high demand for skilled healthcare workers, the academy was created to fill the gap. We also acknowledge that this state approved class is a great way to begin a career in healthcare and is also a great recruitment tool for local healthcare facilities.”
All of the students who participated in the seven-week class at KHCC were from the local community. They received their Nursing Assistant certificate at graduation ceremonies held Jan. 4. Graduates were Anna Brookman, Micah Catron, Matyia Kyle, Heather Pritchett, Jessica Simmons and Hope Smith.
The next class will begin Jan. 15 at KHCC. Contact Jennifer McKenzie at 276-238-1448 to enroll and begin the financial grant assistance process. Applicants who qualify may have tuition and material fees waived.
Warm Hearth Village is a nonprofit senior living community in Blacksburg that provides a full continuum of living options on our campus and in the home.
Warm Hearth Village