Dream Comes True for KRA Youth

Kaila Hunter was a 17 year-old, single parent when she enrolled in the KRA/SCWorks Out-of-School Youth Program 6 months ago.  Her mother  accompanied her to the Orientation, and voiced her concerns…which were three-fold…to Temecca Belcher, KRA Career Agent.  First, she wished for Kaila to further her education and training; second, to get a good job; and third, to achieve self-sufficiency to care for herself and her son.  At the same time, Kaila voiced her own concern, which was to qualify for training that would enable her to enter the medical field as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA).

Subsequent to a battery of aptitude, basic skills, and interest assessments to determine her eligibility/suitability for training, Belcher and Kaila developed an Individual Employment Plan to guide her career path toward her goal.  With Belcher’s assistance and guidance, Kaila enrolled at the Professional Medical Training Center, completed the CNA program on September 25, 2012, and passed the South Carolina State Board Licensing Examination on November 29, 2012!  Kaila expressed to Belcher that she felt she had already overcome many obstacles in her young life, stating “First and foremost, being able to graduate high school, and now to care for my newborn baby boy are two of my biggest accomplishments.  But, most of all, I am thankful for the WIA Youth Program because I would not have been able to accomplish my goal of completing my CNA training and licensing without it.”

Kaila’s long-range plan is to work in an assisted-living facility, either in the Conway or Myrtle Beach area.  Rusty Gaskins, KRA Business Services Representative, is confident of being able to place Kaila on a minimum 160-hour paid Work Experience Contract with a local senior facility for her to gain real-world CNA experience prior to permanent job placement.