Oakton,
Va., Feb. 24, 2006—A
group of 33 trainees graduated
yesterday from Northern Virginia
Family Service’s (NVFS) newest
Training Futures program, making
them the first cycle to start
on new promising career paths
within the health care industry.
“Congratulations
to all of the trainees who are
graduating from this momentous
first cycle of the Training
Futures program in health care
industry careers. These 33 hardworking
individuals have learned skills
that have prepared them to enter
this new workforce and I have
no doubt that each one of the
trainees will succeed in whatever
endeavors they pursue,” said
NVFS President and CEO Mary
Agee.
The
graduation featured Dr. Robert
Templin, Jr., president of Northern
Virginia Community College and
member of the steering committee
of NoVaHealthFORCE, as the keynote
speaker. Templin noted the tremendous
need for trained workers in
the health care industry, as
well as the opportunities for
advancement for those workers.
Templin also announced that
10 scholarships would be available
for trainees who wish to further
their education at the college
in the field of medical coding.
NVFS’
Training Futures program enrolls
140 trainees annually at its
two sites: Springfield and Tysons
Corner. The Springfield site
has graduated 18 classes and
prepared more than 500 trainees
to secure better-paying office
jobs, but this is the first
cycle that focused on administrative
careers within the health care
industry. In partnership with
Northern Virginia Community
College’s Medical Education
Campus and participating health
care employers, Training Futures
retooled its Springfield training
site in an effort to help address
the increasing shortage of health
care workers. The first class
of trainees began the 25-week
program on Aug. 29. Training
Futures continues to operate
its Tysons Corner program with
its traditional focus on administrative
careers in business.
Training
Futures brings together low-income
Northern Virginia adults who
yearn for a better life for
their families through better
jobs, and area businesses that
need technology-savvy administrative
staff. For eight years, NVFS’
award-winning Training Futures
program has successfully trained
hundreds of entry-level administrative
staff for professional services
firms, law firms, governmental
agencies, professional associations
and small businesses.
The
program provides its graduates
with a comprehensive skill set,
including proficiencies in all
Microsoft Office Suite software
products, keyboarding, customer
service, filing, bookkeeping
and business communication.
Trainees consistently achieve
90% graduation rates, 90% employment
success and $5,000/year immediate
wage gains—outcomes that place
this program among the top-performing
workforce development programs
in the country.
Established
in 1924, Northern Virginia Family
Service is a private, non-profit
community service resource dedicated
to helping individuals and families
find new paths to self-reliance
and brighter futures. Each year,
NVFS helps more than 24,000
people find affordable housing,
counseling and child care; access
to low-cost medical and dental
services; foster and respite
care, job training; trauma recovery;
and much more. For more information,
visit www.nvfs.org.
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