Soon after moving into Glenside Homes in March 2022, Angela Lozado became a participant of the Resident Opportunity Self-Service (ROSS) Program. Her involvement began when she engaged in a conversation with Service Coordinator Bill Clemmons about her employment goals. Angela was currently employed as a home health aide but needed some help in obtaining her GED so that she could pursue her dream of becoming a nurse. With Bills’s encouragement and support, Angela obtained her GED and received assistance in enrolling in a vocational program aimed at obtaining certification as a Certified Nursing Assistance (CNA). On February 5th, 2024, Angela completed a 12-week CNA program with Berks Latino Workforce Development Corporation and obtained her CNA certification–the first step towards a nursing career.
As a potent agent of empowerment, the ROSS program fosters self-reliance, self-awareness, and self-esteem among its participants. Participants receive a range of services that include in-person and virtual support, case management, education on community resources, opportunities to attend on-site programs including classes and job fairs, and even modest scholarships to help pay for items that support self-sufficiency goals. For the more than 115 residents who have been enrolled in the program since its inception in 2021, the ROSS program helps to nurture optimism that participants’ aspirations are attainable.
EN 
ES