Fall 2012 WATCH Project participant newsletter

1. WATCH works
Work Attributes Toward Careers in Health
For participants of CSIU WATCH Project FALL 2012
My Story: Persistence pays off!
“I am a single mom with a 7-year-old daughter met Sue Rosinski. Sue really worked with me.
named Talara and have been a CNA for I went faithfully three days a week, and did all
four years. When I was introduced to the the homework Sue gave me. I was also able
WATCH Project, I was struggling with money to bring my daughter to the Family Literacy
and wanted to provide a better life for my program during the summer. They were very
daughter. Since I was young, my grandma good with her and she loved it there.
inspired me to be a nurse, and I
“After a few months of instruction, I
never wanted to do anything else.
“The WATCH Project retook the TABE test and placed at a
I also always wanted to go back to
helped me pursue 12th grade level. I was excited that I
school, but could never afford it.
did much better, and Sue was, too. I
my dream of
“One day, during a conversation with couldn’t have done it without her help.
a family member, she mentioned the becoming an LPN.”
“After passing the TABE test, I was
WATCH Project and explained how
officially enrolled in the WATCH
it provided support for people to go
Project, and applied to the Central Susquehanna LPN
back to school for nursing. I was so excited when she
Career Center in Lewisburg. I took the entrance exam
told me about it, I called the next day.
for the program, but did not score enough points to be
“The person I first talked to at the WATCH Project accepted.
was very nice and answered all my questions. I then
“I was devastated again, and the first person I called
met with my career coordinator, Gaye, who told me
was Gaye. She reassured me that it would be okay
that I had to take the TABE test. When I took it, I
and suggested that I apply to Pennsylvania College of
was very nervous because it was nothing like I had
Technology in Williamsport and take a few classes. I
expected. I got my results, and found I placed at an
took the placement test and the only thing I struggled
8th grade level, but needed to place at least at an 11th
with was math, but overall did pretty well. I enrolled as
grade level to get WATCH Project support in an LPN
a part-time student and took three pre-nursing classes,
program.
three times a week. continued on page 2
“At the time, I was very upset that I didn’t do better,
but I knew I was out of my norm because I had been in this issue
out of school for 11 years. So I talked to Gaye who
suggested I enroll in the CSIU’s adult education FAFSA reminders.....................................2
classes to study and to raise my test scores. I went Congratulations, graduates!................3
to the CSIU’s Adult and Family Learning Center and Regional dental care services. ............4
.

2. FAFSA reminders
Getting ready to apply for financial aid for the 2013-14 school year? Here are a few things for you to keep in mind.
• Remember that you can • First-time filers should complete the
apply online for free Pennsylvania State Grant Form (for PHEAA)
through the US Department directly from the online FAFSA confirmation
of Education at www.fafsa. page. Look for the link that reads “Optional
ed.gov. Be sure to save Feature—Start your state application—Click
your Personal Identification here if you want to apply for Pennsylvania state-
Number (PIN)! based financial aid.”
• To make completing the web application • FAFSA deadlines are set by federal and state
easier, file your 2012 Income Tax forms first agencies, as well as individual school financial
and then use the online IRS Data Retrieval aid offices, and vary widely. Contact the
Tool to complete your FAFSA. financial aid office of your school to learn when
your 2013-14 FAFSA application is due.
• Print off and review the FAFSA worksheet
before completing the application. • To see the deadlines for PHEAA state grant
applications, visit www.pheaa.org.
My Story: continued
“Before I started classes, I worked third shift and the good times and the bad to never give up and to
knew I couldn’t work all night and go to school all day. keep on going no matter how many times I failed at
So I looked for another job that would be flexible with something. The WATCH Project and Gaye, my career
my school schedule. I was hired at Kramm Nursing coordinator, have helped me pursue my dream of
Home in Milton, and was still able to spend time with becoming an LPN.
my daughter.
“Every day that I go to school I think of my daughter,
“While at Penn College, the WATCH Project offered and know that no matter how hard things can be, in
multiple support services, and I completed the the long run, it is all worth it. To have my daughter
semester with a 3.1 GPA earning two B’s and an A. be proud of me the way she is now is wonderful. And
I’m teaching her no matter how bad things seem,
“I applied again at the LPN Center, studied hard and
they can always get better if you believe in yourself,
passed the entrance exam. I was accepted into the
are willing to work hard, and have a program like the
part-time program that begins in January 2013. I
WATCH Project to help you.”
chose the part-time program so that I can continue to
work at Kramm’s. I will be working toward my dream By Amy Dieffenbach, Watsontown
and will still be able to support my daughter and Pennsylvania College of Technology
myself.
Amy will begin classes at the Central Susquehanna
“While it may mean sacrifice for awhile, I know
LPN Career Center in January 2013.
in the long run that this is the best thing for my
daughter and me. I have worked really hard through
WATCH works 2

3. Congratulations to recent graduates!
Corey Bohner Maddy Winner (South Elizabeth Harvey and Pictured are graduates of Mifflin-Juniata Career
(Shamokin Dam) Williamsport), Rolando Calderon, LaShawnta Nowlin and Technology Center’s LPN program:
and Heidi Pursel (Montgomery) and Alicia (both of Williamsport) (from L to R): Melinda Hosler (Lewistown), Johnna-
(Bloomsburg) Knittle (Hughesville) graduated graduated from Kay Bilger-Hoar (Lewistown), Ashley Korinchak
graduated from from Pennsylvania College of HACC’s CNA program. (Reedsville) and Angela Wagner (Belleville).
HACC’s CNA program. Technology’s LPN program.
Nicole Meter Pictured are Dipak Sahoo Brittany Fida (Lock Haven), Jennifer Nicole McEntire Jody Boyer
(Pleasant Gap) (Boalsburg) and Shannon Carson (Renovo) and Wesley Strouse (Williamsport) and (Middleburg)
graduated from Druckemiller (McClure) who (Lock Haven) graduated from Susque- Candace Basey (Lock graduated from
Central PA Institute graduated from Lewistown View Home’s CNA program. Haven) graduated HACC’s CNA
of Science and
Technology’s CNA Hospital’s RN program. from HACC’s CNA program.
program. program.
Congratulations to the following WATCH Project participants (not pictured) who recently graduated from nursing
programs at several regional educational institutions.
CENTRAL SUSQUEHANNA LPN Harrisburg Area Diamond Regan, Berwick
CAREER CENTER Community College (HACC) Heather Reppert, Coal Township
Licensed Practical Nursing Program Certified Nursing Assistant Program Bionca Styers, Williamsport
Brenna Thompson, McClure
Jamie Blackson, South Williamsport Sherri Abbatiello, Danville
Jessica Usefof, Northumberland
Liliya Borisov, Lewisburg Susan Allen, Williamsport
Amy Walker, West Milton
Stacy Daniels, Williamsport Morgan Colpetzer, Lock Haven
Mary White, McClure
Amanda Fern, Williamsport Michael Fitzwater, Williamsport
Tria Jones, Lewisburg Nysheer Glenn, Williamsport NSB Trainers
Ericka Kinney, Williamsport Ashley Harman, Williamsport
Certified Nursing Assistant Program
Paula Merwin, Montandon Kristin Harris, Burnham
Jamie Smith, Shamokin Amanda Heffner, Williamsport Amber Travelpiece, Berwick
Mary Spotts, Mifflinburg Tabitha Ingram, Milton Pennsylvania college of
Sheena Vincent, Sunbury Roxie Mannino, Reedsville technology
Kimberly McQuillen, Williamsport Licensed Practical Nursing Program
Tiffany Minnich, Berwick
Ollya Reed, Berwick Janice Rupert, Lock Haven
WATCH works 3

4. Regional dental care services available
Below is a list of providers who offer free or reduced-fee dental care to qualified individuals. Please contact
the provider prior to making an appointment to discuss services and payment options.
Lycoming County Mifflin and Snyder Counties
Susquehanna Community Health & Mifflin-Juniata Dental Clinic
Dental Center
31 S. Dorcas St, Compass Bldg., Suite E, Lewistown
469-471 Hepburn St, Williamsport (717) 447-1898
(570) 567-5430
serving All PA Counties
Northumberland, Union and HACC Dental Hygiene Clinic
Snyder Counties
Select Medical Health Education Pavilion,
Susquehanna River Valley Dental
Health Clinic Room 102, HACC Harrisburg Campus
(717) 780-2441
335 Market St, Suite 1, Sunbury
(570) 286-7500
This document was supported by Grant #90FX0011 from the
Columbia and Montour Counties Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health
& Human Services (HHS). Its contents are solely the responsibility
The Dental Health Clinic
of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of
107 South Market St, Berwick HHS. Work Attributes Toward Careers in Health
(570) 752-8753 (WATCH) is a Health Profession Opportunity
Grant and is administered by the Central
Susquehanna Intermediate Unit (CSIU).
WATCH works 4
Milton, PA 17847
90 Lawton Lane
WATCH Project