Newspaper Page Text
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_DECEMBER 25, 1997 AUGUSTA FOCUS
CNA graduateslooking toward careers
By Mork Oliphast
AUGUSTA FOCUS M&
A graduation ceremony was held
for 10 local women who success
fully completed the requirements
to pass the Certified Nursing As
sistant Program cosponsored by
the Augusta Richmond Opportu
nity Center, Inc. The graduates
attended the six-week program at
the Laney Walker Business Tech
nology Center.
This marks the fourth class to
graduate as CNAs from the six
week program initiated by Laney
Walker BTC president and AROC
founder Commissioner Henry
Brigham. The new CNAs received
nursing certification from the
American Red Cross and the State
of Georgia.
Dubbed as “The Loving Miracle
Workers,” the current crop of
graduates have come from diverse
backgrounds. Some have been em
ployed at local hospitals such as
University and Eisenhower at dif
ferent capacities, but others previ
ously were relying on public assis
tance.
“With the changes existing in
welfare, this program aims to get
people off of public assistance and
realize the true essence of earning
power,” said Mr. Brigham. Enroll
ment in the course is only the first
step in the program, Mr. Brigham
said. It is expected that all the
graduates will go on to have suc
cessful careers. No experience is
needed to become a part of the
program.
“Though the law requires people
who work with patients be certi
fied by the State of Georgia, we
welcome those who have no expe
rience but possess desire to
achieve,” Mr. Brigham explained.
The enrollees receive thorough
training by certified professionals
from area medical and nursing
Dorsey rises to Eagle Scout
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Region 12 Board to meet on New Year’s Day
The MHMRSA Region 12 Board
will meet on Thursday, January 1,
1998, at 5 p.m. at the Georgia Re
gional Hospital, 3405 Old Savan
nah Road, building 15. The group
is the governing board for the Re
gion 12 Planning Unit, a sub-state
office of the Division of Mental
Health, Mental Retardation and
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Give a Child a Helping Hand
The following letter was written by a foster parent in a
county in the CSRA who has also adopted one child.
“The season of giving is upon us and as a Foster/Adoptive
Parent, I would like to thank DFCS for placing children in my
home. These children have given me joy, laughter, and the
wonderful feeling of loving and helping another person.
Each child that has come into our home has left their
fingerprints on our doorknobs and our hearts. Many people
ask how can you let them go? Some stay with us, others return
to their birth parents after a time, others go to permanent
homes. Thereis joy in helping them along this path. I imagine
it’s the same joy a parent feels when his child marries or goes
to college, they are ready for the new adventure and you're
happy for them, but anxious at the same time. I like to think
that, as they have left theii mark on my heart, that my family
has also left happiness and safety in theirs.
DFCS helped support my family in making this life-chang
ing decision of becoming a Foster/Adoptive Family by offering
a 10-week training course called MAPP. They have always
been on the other end of the phone when the need arose. I'd
like to give everyone a gift this season by suggesting you call
Brenda W. Brown at McDuffie County DFCS at (706) 595-
2946, and learn how to become a Foster/Adoptive Parent and
give a child a helping hand down the path of life either as a
permanent home or a safe haven along the way.”
If you'd like more information about the gift, please call or
attend an informational meeting at the McDuffie County
Library on Thursday, January 15, 1998, at 6:30 p.m. Space is
limited so please call to register if you would like to attend.
People/Events
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Lead instructor Tricia Jordan (left) joins Commissioner Henry Brigham (extreme right) and
several of the CNA graduates. Among the graduates are Barbara Bennett, Tonya Collier,
Vershonda Collier, Patricia Dixon, Felicia Grays, Jacqueline Jeffrey, Swan Stewart, Shakira
Woodard, and Regina Steed.
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facilities. Some of the trainers are
former students of the AROC pro
gram, and were later placed at
hospitals through either Georgia
Personnel, a temporary job-place
ment agency, or direct placement.
At thelocal hospitals the enrollees
receive on-the-job training, then
go on to full certification.
Although the program has only
been in existence for one year,
there are many success stories.
“The last ten of our graduates
were on the rolls with the Depart
ment of Family and Children ser
vices and were able to successfully
complete our program and find
work,” says Brigham.
The instructors of the program,
who were among the first gradu
ates of the program, were in
structed and certified by the
American Red Cross and the State
of Georgia. They made the deci
sion to remain affiliated with the
program.
Among the facilities where the
CNAs have found employment are
Michael Leonard Dorsey was re
cently awarded the Eagle Scout
Award. The rank is the highest
attainable in scouting. The Eagle
Court of Honor was held at Trin
ity C.M.E. Church on November
15, 1997. Dorsey is a member of
Troop 504 of Tabernacle Baptist
Church where Michael Ryanisthe
scout master. Dorsey has been ac
tively involved in scouting since
1987 when he began as a Cub
Scout at Bethel AM.E. Church.
Dorsey joined Troop 504 in 1991
under the leadership of Mr. Henry
Armstrong, followed by Dr. Alfred
Peters.
Michael is the son of Keith and
Maggie T. Dorsey.
Substance Abuse, Georgia Depart
ment of Human Resources. The
board is involved with planning,
resourceallocation and evaluation
of state-funded mental health,
mental retardation and substance
abuse services.
For more information, call (706)
721-0762.
the Blair House, Windermere, and
University Hospital. Other sup
port partners for this program in
clude the Senior Community Ser
vice Employment Center, Blair
House, Columbia County Depart
ment of Family and Children Ser
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clothing, accessories = IS L
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Starts early! 8 am, .
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©1997 Sears, Roebuck and Co. Satisfaction Guaranteed or Your Money Back.
vices and consultant Elder Al
Ferguson.
New classes will begin on Janu
ary 5,1998. Interested parties may
pick up an application at the office
at 1201 Laney Walker Boulevard
or call 724-0446.
Santa and friends from the Boys and
Girls Clubs visited Ft. Discovery
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Augusta Mall sponsored lunch and an afternoon at the Ft.
Discovery Science Center with Santa for 20 children from the local
Boys and Girls Clubs on Sat., Dec. 20. The children were also
freated to a feature film in the Paul S. Simon Discovery Theater in
the science center. The outing was one of several events Augusta
Mall sponsored this season so treat local kids to activities they
would not ordinarily get to participate in. Photo by Lillian Wan