Qualified New York State residents may now upgrade their job skills at no cost to them through the InVEST program offered at Ulster BOCES.
“This is an opportunity for people in the area who are underemployed or unemployed to receive career training at no expense, not even for textbooks or uniforms,” says Dianne Sleight, coordinator of the InVEST Program at Ulster BOCES.
The InVEST program at Ulster BOCES, which is funded by a grant from the New York State Department of Labor, includes nine career paths in areas that fit the needs of the Ulster County workforce. “For example, there’s a tremendous shortage of CNAs (Certified Nursing Assistants) in the area,” says Sleight. InVEST is offering free training in the CNA area to qualified applicants.
In addition to CNAs, the InVEST program will train EKG technicians, phlebotomy technicians, medical coding and billing technicians, clerical office personnel, entry-level machinist/manufacturing technicians, oil heat technicians, computer network coordinators, and help desk professionals (computer troubleshooters).
According to Elizabeth Hayter, assistant director for Ulster BOCES Adult Education, although the program is only two months old, 71 people have already been placed in classes throughout the nine career paths. The program has 92 additional openings for qualified residents and operates on a first-come, first-served basis.
“This program can help people obtain skills to move up the job ladder and be more valuable to area employers,” says Sleight.
Qualifications for the InVEST program include the following: the applicant must be a New York State resident; one or more people in the applicant’s household must be either a pregnant woman, a child under the age of 18, a child under age 19 attending secondary school or an equivalent level of vocational or technical training (for example, a BOCES program), or an adult who is not the parent, but is a relative caring for a minor child; and the applicant’s total income must not exceed the income requirements.
For income maximums, an application, and other information about InVEST at Ulster BOCES, call Dianne Sleight at (845) 331-0902.
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