Program Details

Amber came to us looking for assistance with obtaining her GED and continuing to become a Physical Therapist Assistant. She was a single mother who was working and receiving SNAP benefits. Within a few months of enrolling in Adult Education services, Amber passed the final portion of her GED and earned her High School Equivalency. The following semester, Amber enrolled in general education courses at Heartland Community College to pursue their Physical Therapist Assistant program. She was able to receive enough PELL and MAP to cover the tuition and books required for her classes, however, she needed assistance with gas to get to her classes in Normal. She progressed well through her general studies and took a semester off to have a baby. Last summer, she realized it was taking longer than she anticipated to complete the Physical Therapist Assistant program, so she decided to change her area of study to Medical Assistant. With the approval of the change in programs, we were able to continue to reimburse Amber's gas to class, pay for supplies needed for her clinical class, and also helped pay a portion of a utility bill as an emergency supportive service. Doing so helped her stay afloat until she could start earning a self-sufficient wage. In May 2022, she earned her Medical Assistant Certificate. Within a couple of weeks, she applied and accepted a CMA position at an area hospital. Amber has expressed her appreciation for the opportunity: “Everyone was kind and very prompt to help guide me through this whole process. This program was a blessing. Thank you so much for everything you have done for me.”