Methodist College in Peoria is piloting a program in which low-income young adults can improve their medical training. A grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity enables four women to work as certified nursing assistants while simultaneously going to school.
The grant pays for tuition and some expenses. This allows the students to work full-time as CNAs while attending class to become medical assistants. Governor Bruce Rauner visited the students at the Methodist simulation lab, which has six mannequins that reproduce various health conditions. Governor Rauner wants to see this program replicated statewide.
"This is our first one of our major pilots and we want to see how this goes and see how we can expand it over time, how we can learn from what you’re learning and try to do it all the better." Rauner says.
The four students will graduate in August of next year and be employed at UnityPoint Health as medical assistants.