Martha's Success Story | Ontario, OR
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Martha Nelly Esquivel, 20 years of age, fluent in Spanish, and has her high school diploma from Vale, Oregon, came into our office at OHDC in April. She wanted to pursue a career in the nursing field as a Certified Nursing Assistant (C.N.A.). She has been attending college and would like to continue her education after obtaining her C.N.A. to become a Registered Nurse (RN). Martha was a farmworker who worked in the fields during the summer. She worked a lot of hours doing manual labor while planting onions. She earned $1770.14 in one year prior to entering into the Workforce Innovation Opportunities Act, (WIOA). Along with her mother’s income they have earned a total of $19,017.01 a year, which is a low income for a family size of three. Martha currently lives with her mother and little sister. She attends school, while helping take care of her younger sister. Martha has two older sisters who have joined the military service and are away from home. Her mother is very dependent on Martha for assistance to appointments and taking care of the household.
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Martha started her C.N.A. class in the month of May, at the College of Western Idaho, in which she had to travel from Vale, Oregon to Caldwell, Idaho; a 45 minute drive. She attended class Tuesday and Thursdays, from 5:00pm to 9:00pm each week, with a study group on Fridays to ensure she would pass the class. OHDC assisted with tuition fee, books, and a Home Health Care CPR/First Aid certification fee. OHDC bought the necessary supplies for this class such as scrubs, gate-belt, blood pressure cuff, and stethoscope. OHDC used the WIOA 167 funds to pay for these cost that most farmworkers may not be able to purchase because of their limited income. Stipends are also provided to our clients while they attend class room training, and she was allowed fuel transportation to get back and forth from class in Caldwell.
Once she completed the course, she signed up for her skills and written exams, so she could be licensed in the state of Idaho to practice as a Certified Nursing Assistant (C.N.A.). She passed both exams and has applied for her Oregon C.N.A. Certification by Endorsement, which will allow her to be employed in both states. Martha was able to land a job at Pioneer Place in Vale, her home town. She filled out the application and attached her resume to be handed in along with the application. She was hired as a part-time position, but is always available and willing to work other coworker’s shifts. She goes into work when called. She came to me expressing her feelings about working part-time. She wants to work full-time to help her mom with financial expenses at home. I referred her to Nyssa Gardens to speak to April Aldred the Administrator, who just happened to call me that she had a position open. I called April to set up an interview for Martha to meet with April for an interview in the morning of that week. Martha called me afterwards to let me know she was hired on as part-time at Nyssa Gardens because April didn’t want to take away any of Pioneer’s employees. April is going to work around Pioneer’s work schedule for Martha. Martha was very grateful for the referrals to both assisted living facilities. Martha earns $10.25/hr. at Pioneer Place and will be earning $9.50/hr. at Nyssa Gardens.
Martha has earned her certification as a Certified Nursing Assistant, obtained her CPR/First Aid card, is now employed by two companies, whom she works part-time for at each facility. She continues to pursue her education and career in the medical field, while attending Treasure Valley Community College.
Once she completed the course, she signed up for her skills and written exams, so she could be licensed in the state of Idaho to practice as a Certified Nursing Assistant (C.N.A.). She passed both exams and has applied for her Oregon C.N.A. Certification by Endorsement, which will allow her to be employed in both states. Martha was able to land a job at Pioneer Place in Vale, her home town. She filled out the application and attached her resume to be handed in along with the application. She was hired as a part-time position, but is always available and willing to work other coworker’s shifts. She goes into work when called. She came to me expressing her feelings about working part-time. She wants to work full-time to help her mom with financial expenses at home. I referred her to Nyssa Gardens to speak to April Aldred the Administrator, who just happened to call me that she had a position open. I called April to set up an interview for Martha to meet with April for an interview in the morning of that week. Martha called me afterwards to let me know she was hired on as part-time at Nyssa Gardens because April didn’t want to take away any of Pioneer’s employees. April is going to work around Pioneer’s work schedule for Martha. Martha was very grateful for the referrals to both assisted living facilities. Martha earns $10.25/hr. at Pioneer Place and will be earning $9.50/hr. at Nyssa Gardens.
Martha has earned her certification as a Certified Nursing Assistant, obtained her CPR/First Aid card, is now employed by two companies, whom she works part-time for at each facility. She continues to pursue her education and career in the medical field, while attending Treasure Valley Community College.