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Native Employment Works Program Report and Instructions, Exp. 8/31/25

NEW program report and instructions
September 19, 2022

Native Employment Works (NEW) grantees are required to submit an annual report that includes a narrative and statistical component.  NEW program reports cover each July 1 — June 30 program year/ report period.  In each program report, grantees should cover NEW activities, services, and achievements during/for the period covered by the report, including activities, services, and achievements paid for/supported with NEW funds awarded for this program year and activities, services, and achievements paid for/supported with any NEW funds carried forward from a previous program year.

Rapid City, SD

HPOG helped Salome find successful career despite her major health challenges

Salome grew up on the Pine Ridge Reservation in southwest South Dakota. For many years she took care of her parents, both of whom were on dialysis. She helped administer their medication and made sure they were comfortable and well-looked after. Later in life, Salome herself required dialysis over a period of ten years. While receiving treatment, Salome watched the nurses at work. She admired the confident, respectful, and compassionate way they interacted with patients under their care. This experience stuck with her and influenced her decision to enter the healthcare field.

In 2015, Salome began her education journey by enrolling in the GED program at the Career Learning Center in Rapid City, SD. At times, she was discouraged, unsure if she had what it took to become successful. An instructor noticed her frustrations and introduced her to the Prosperity Initiative. It is a program that strives to move families and individuals, like Salome, in Rapid City from poverty to prosperity. Salome expressed her goal to make something more of herself as well as her desire to enter the healthcare field. They referred her to the Great Plains Tribal Chairmen’s Health Board’s HPOG program, Pathways to Healthcare Professions (PHP) . Soon after Salome’s acceptance into PHP, she started a Certified Nursing Assistant program.

Completing her education proved difficult. Salome had to balance 40 hours of school with dialysis treatments three times a week. Salome was determined to complete her training though and worked out an alternative schedule that allowed her to fulfill her academic requirements. The instructor let her leave early on the days she had dialysis, and worked with her after class on alternate days so she would not fall behind. PHP staff also helped her get to her classes and treatments.

In class, Salome was shy but engaged with the material. She demonstrated an excellent knowledge and understanding of patient care. Her instructors noted her kindness and dedication to caring for others. During clinical rotations, she went the extra mile for patients under her care, such as answering call lights when she was not required to. Salome completed her CNA training in April 2019 and received her GED soon after.

In January 2020, Salome began a Licensed Practical Nurse program at Western Dakota Tech and is on track to become a nurse. Under normal circumstances, Salome’s health and financial challenges might have prevented her from achieving her goals, but her determination, integrity and perseverance kept her focused. The support she received from the PHP HPOG staff further allowed her to excel and helped make her dream a reality.

This success story was self-identified by the grantee and information contained in this document was provided by the grantee.

HPOG Success Story: Salome at Great Plains Tribal Charimen's Health Board (PDF) (PDF)

Tribal college’s HPOG program success guides statewide diversity initiatives in North Dakota.

With funding from a Health Professions Opportunity Grant (HPOG), Cankdeska Cikana Community College’s Next Steps II Program is now in its eighth year of providing training for healthcare occupations, advancing the diversity of the nursing workforce in North Dakota, and addressing critical healthcare workforce needs throughout the state.

Inspiration comes in many forms. For Kelli, it came from her three young children.

A single mother, living on a reservation, Kelli worked hard to keep up with her own children during the fast-paced digital age, but she had very little opportunity for education or job training.

This put strain on her ability to be a stable role model and provider for her family. She longed for a fulfilling career that provided job security and the opportunity to have dinner with her children without rushing off to the next job.

The Yankton Sioux Tribe’s Master Health Director introduced Kelli to the HPOG Pathways to Healthcare Professions (PHP)  program. After reaching out by phone and discussing her situation and long-term goals, she decided to apply for Certified Professional Coder (CPC) courses.

When Alex first applied to Cook Inlet Tribal Council’s (CITC) Health Program Opportunities Grant Health Care Training program funded by the Health Profession Opportunity Grants (HPOG) program of the Office of Family Assistance, he found out he was going to be a father for the first time. Though his family was eligible for public assistance, and relied on that support, Alex was hired as a full-time gas station attendant and was no longer eligible.

Alex had always wanted to be in the healthcare field. He thought he’d make a good certified nursing assistant (CNA) because he’d taken care of an aging relative as a teen. In addition to his own aspirations, Alex was now a young father and he wanted to make a better life for his growing family. When Alex came to CITC HPOG he was unsure how he would pay for school to pursue his dream. Fortunately, when Alex went to apply for cash assistance he was told about the HPOG program and applied to participate in August 2011. He attended the CNA orientation and job shadow requirements orientation meetings, and his application was selected for the Winter 2012 CNA training. Alex did very well in the training and completed all the necessary requirements to become a licensed CNA, but soon hit a roadblock that nearly derailed his progress. The Alaska Board of Nursing would not license him based on findings from his criminal background check. A mistake from Alex’s youth had caught up with him and threatened his future. Alex would not be allowed to take the required National Certification Licensure Examination until he satisfied all inquires from the Alaska Board of Nursing (Board). CITC helped Alex respond to and address all concerns of the Board. Alex credits the encouragement and guidance from CITC staff with keeping him going and not losing hope.

  

An overview of the Native Employment Works (NEW) program.