The Health Professionals Training Institute is a program of ERI that is dedicated to helping disadvantaged individuals achieve economic independence through intensive job specific training in the health care field. We CHANGE lives.

The following are some heartwarming stories that are examples of why we do what we do…

Mary Ann was living in a shelter and very depressed. During the class, she told the teacher she had felt that her life had no direction, but after taking the class for a few weeks, she was excited about the new direction her life was taking. Mary Ann is in the process of moving out to an apartment and is no longer depressed. She has been happily employed for 2 months now.

Antonia, who speaks multiple languages, encountered a woman at her adult day care job who has dementia. Her condition made it very difficult for the staff to care for her. When she is taken to use the toilet, the woman would take off her clothes because she thought she was getting a bath. Antonia took the initiative to speak to the woman in her native language – French – to see if she could communicate. It worked, and the woman understood. Antonia felt great about really helping someone and her colleagues were appreciative of her efforts.

Maria had a Spanish-speaking patient at the nursing home for her hands-on practical training. The man had been depressed for a long time. He would not get dressed nor would he get up. No one at the nursing home could speak Spanish and they did not know what to do. When Maria showed up, she talked to him in his native tongue, and very quickly, the staff noticed changes in his behavior. The man started getting dressed and was a lot more outgoing and willing to participate in activities.