Southwest Indiana AHEC
University of Southern Indiana
8600 University Boulevard, HP 2091
Evansville, IN 47712
Phone: 812-461-5446
Southwest Indiana Area Health Education Center (SWI-AHEC) was proud to partner with the Southwestern Indiana Health Services Academy to develop a Certified Nursing Assistant Program at Academy for Innovative Studies on First Avenue in Evansville. This program allows students to obtain a Certified Nursing Assistant certificate while earning their high school diploma. Being enrolled in this program has resulted in students improving their attendance, grades and behavior by as much as 85 percent, and 100 percent of the students were offered employment prior to graduation. Employers report that students are well-prepared with the right skills and great attitudes.
“Our first three CNA cohorts have passed Indiana State Boards with a 100 percent pass rate,” said Kerseclia Patterson, academic outreach coordinator for SWI-AHEC “We launched our fourth cohort in January 2017. AHEC thanks everyone who has supported this 'leap of faith' vision.”
SWI-AHEC project receives Leadership Evansville award
The Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program at Academy for Innovative Studies (AIS), First Avenue, received the Leadership Evansville Visionary Award during the 2017 Celebration of Leadership on March 9, 2017.
In their own words:
“I would not come to school today if I weren’t in the CNA class.”
– CNA student
“It felt so good to finally be noticed at the CNA ceremony. All my life I have gone unnoticed. It was such a great experience to stand out.”
– CNA student
“They are caring and efficient beyond their years.”
– Family member of a long-term care resident