For years, Tiffany took care of her ailing mother, providing her with the support she needed to live a comfortable life. This past May, Tiffany's mother passed suddenly, leaving her in a challenging situation. "Taking care of my mother was my full-time job," said Tiffany. "So, when she passed away, I not only lost the person I loved the most, but also my primary source of income, which was her. And on top of that, her landlord gave me two weeks to move out. So here I was: no mother, no job, and no home."
Ever resourceful, Tiffany was able to find a temporary solution by registering at the shelter at the IW Women’s Center at Crabbs Branch. It gave her somewhere to stay temporarily while she decided what to do next. "I wanted to carry on caring for people. Considering my background, I believed I could find a job in healthcare, but I discovered that I needed a certificate."
And, as luck would have it, Tiffany learned about the PCC Workforce Capacity program. "I happened to learn about the PCC scholarship through a chance conversation with a friend. She told me to contact Liza Greenberg, Director of Workforce Capacity at PCC. I met with Liza, and she told me that I was eligible to receive support through the Workforce Development Program. She helped me complete the application. I was able to get a spot in the program with her assistance."
In addition to Nexus Montgomery hospital partners and training institutions like Montgomery College, PCC’s Workforce Capacity program partners with community organizations that provide outreach, wraparound services, and student support. Through the program, Tiffany enrolled in the CNA program at Montgomery College. Everything appeared to be going smoothly until she had to relocate to a motel due to a fire that destroyed the shelter. "I was working part-time and attending classes, so my financial situation was precarious to begin with. Now that I was no longer able to live at the shelter and was forced into a motel, I couldn't afford to keep up with my studies and pay for my housing. I couldn’t believe the overwhelming situation I found myself in. I am a fighter by nature, but I needed an ally."
Tiffany found allies among the PCC program staff as well as her professor at Montgomery College and the Montgomery College CNA program leadership. With Tiffany’s agreement and commitment to continuing, the team paused her initial enrollment and re-enrolled her for the next class. Thanks to her own tenacity and support from the PCC Workforce Capacity program, Tiffany is on now track to complete her CNA program in September. She highlights the lab and practical training as being especially beneficial. "I was able to perform CPR on a woman on a plane thanks to the training I received in the lab." After graduation, she wants to work in a hospital in Montgomery County. Tiffany remarks, "Sometimes when you think you’re all alone, if you stick with it and look around, there are angels there to help you." Tiffany’s journey illustrates how the Workforce Capacity Program – coupled the remarkable perseverance shown by candidates, is changing people’s lives.
A grant from the U.S. Department of Labor(DOL)’s Employment and Training Administration funds 92.8% ($1.3 million) of the cost to train 200 healthcare workers and increase Montgomery College training capacity between December 2023 and November 2025. Non-governmental funds, including support from Maryland Physicians Care, support 7.2% ($101,615) of these costs. Additional workforce capacity efforts have been supported by WorkSource Montgomery and Maryland Physicians Care.
Ever resourceful, Tiffany was able to find a temporary solution by registering at the shelter at the IW Women’s Center at Crabbs Branch. It gave her somewhere to stay temporarily while she decided what to do next. "I wanted to carry on caring for people. Considering my background, I believed I could find a job in healthcare, but I discovered that I needed a certificate."
And, as luck would have it, Tiffany learned about the PCC Workforce Capacity program. "I happened to learn about the PCC scholarship through a chance conversation with a friend. She told me to contact Liza Greenberg, Director of Workforce Capacity at PCC. I met with Liza, and she told me that I was eligible to receive support through the Workforce Development Program. She helped me complete the application. I was able to get a spot in the program with her assistance."
In addition to Nexus Montgomery hospital partners and training institutions like Montgomery College, PCC’s Workforce Capacity program partners with community organizations that provide outreach, wraparound services, and student support. Through the program, Tiffany enrolled in the CNA program at Montgomery College. Everything appeared to be going smoothly until she had to relocate to a motel due to a fire that destroyed the shelter. "I was working part-time and attending classes, so my financial situation was precarious to begin with. Now that I was no longer able to live at the shelter and was forced into a motel, I couldn't afford to keep up with my studies and pay for my housing. I couldn’t believe the overwhelming situation I found myself in. I am a fighter by nature, but I needed an ally."
Tiffany found allies among the PCC program staff as well as her professor at Montgomery College and the Montgomery College CNA program leadership. With Tiffany’s agreement and commitment to continuing, the team paused her initial enrollment and re-enrolled her for the next class. Thanks to her own tenacity and support from the PCC Workforce Capacity program, Tiffany is on now track to complete her CNA program in September. She highlights the lab and practical training as being especially beneficial. "I was able to perform CPR on a woman on a plane thanks to the training I received in the lab." After graduation, she wants to work in a hospital in Montgomery County. Tiffany remarks, "Sometimes when you think you’re all alone, if you stick with it and look around, there are angels there to help you." Tiffany’s journey illustrates how the Workforce Capacity Program – coupled the remarkable perseverance shown by candidates, is changing people’s lives.
A grant from the U.S. Department of Labor(DOL)’s Employment and Training Administration funds 92.8% ($1.3 million) of the cost to train 200 healthcare workers and increase Montgomery College training capacity between December 2023 and November 2025. Non-governmental funds, including support from Maryland Physicians Care, support 7.2% ($101,615) of these costs. Additional workforce capacity efforts have been supported by WorkSource Montgomery and Maryland Physicians Care.
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