Certified Nursing Assistant Home Health Aide Training Program

Catholic Charities South’s Certified Nursing Assistant and Home Health Training Program focuses on developing marketable skills for entry into the health care field specifically for new immigrants, women transitioning from welfare, and current high school students or dropouts. Students not only spend time in the classroom but also in clinical training through a partnership with West Acres Nursing Home, a long term, skilled-care facility in Brockton.

During clinicals, each student is assigned a patient. They are responsible for anything the patient needs, which may include getting them out of bed, brushing their teeth, and feeding them.

The Certified Nursing Assistant and Home Health Training Program serves approximately 120 students each year. The day program lasts 8 weeks; the evening program takes 13 weeks. Students must complete 125 hours of training to receive certification. This program differs from others in the area because of the double certificate. Others offer either certification as a nursing assistant or in home health training.

While this program serves many different people interested in health care, its primary focus is on immigrants. Approximately 80 percent are from Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Africa, and Cape Verde. They may take specialized English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes at Catholic Charities South’s English Transcultural Center where they learn medical health terminology either before or while participating in the certification program. It is important for these students to be able to speak and write English effectively. This program works at a fast pace, often covering four chapters each week in the classroom.

Services offered at this location

• Education and Training
• Career Training and Job Placement
  • Certified Nursing Assistant/Home Health Aide Training