Americans Helping Americans® works tirelessly to remove educational roadblocks for children and youth in distressed Appalachian communities with limited resources, high poverty rates, and a lack of access to basic educational tools—barriers that many students struggle to overcome.
Addressing Challenges in Vocational Education
Many promising youth seeking career paths in fields such as nursing and healthcare, automotive and welding, and construction, carpentry, and electricity at Career and Technical Centers (CTCs) and Area Technology Centers (ATCs) face obstacles beyond academic challenges. The real issue for many is not keeping up with classwork or understanding the material; it’s the unaffordable fees for exams, certifications, and the necessary supplies needed to pursue their dreams.
Implementing the Want2Work (W2W) Initiative
To address these concerns, in 2023, Americans Helping Americans® implemented the Want2Work (W2W) initiative. This program enables vocational and technical schools across Appalachia to apply for grants that help students overcome financial barriers.
Example: Healthcare/Nursing Students at Lee County, Kentucky ATC
Students are required to have:
• Scrubs: $48 per set
• Specialized footwear: $68 per pair
• Suitable watch: $26
• Rocketbook reusable notebook: $26
The cost for these four items totals $168—a small fortune for a high school teen working part-time at minimum wage or for families struggling to keep bills paid and food on the table.
Additional Financial Barriers and Program Expansion
Staff at the Lee County ATC have reported that promising students have had to drop out of the nursing program due to:
• A $200 fee for taking the certification test
• $100 needed for nurse attire
• More than $600 for books
• $625 per semester in tuition for three semesters
Since then, the W2W program has expanded to include two more schools: the Estill County, Kentucky ATC and the Lee County, Virginia CTC.
At the Lee County CTC
• NCLEX Exam: W2W grant funding covers the $200 cost for the National Council Licensure Examination—a requirement for becoming a licensed nurse in the U.S.
• Nursing License: The program also covers the $170 cost.
• Equipment Upgrades: Grant funding has enabled the school to purchase modern equipment such as a Hill-Rom reconditioned hospital bed, an Alaris IV Pump, IV tubing for the pump, and other items.
At the Estill County ATC
The ATC offers courses in diesel, electricity and industrial maintenance, engineering, computer science, and health science for approximately 200 students. For example:
• Diesel Students: Need safety equipment, advanced diesel tools, and diagnostic tools—requirements for starting a small business.
• Electricity and Industrial Maintenance Students: Benefit from safety equipment, essential tools, textbooks, and expanded opportunities through employment connections and mentorships.
• Engineering Students: Rely on resources like The Engineering Black Book (a technical resource consolidating key engineering information) and a RAK multitool set.
In total, for 2024, 457 vocational students benefited from the W2W program.
A Grateful Partnership
Lee County ATC Principal Craig Herald is grateful to the supporters of Americans Helping Americans® for the partnership “that will help our students have a successful transition into a high-wage career.” At the start of the 2023-2024 academic year, Principal Herald announced the grant program to the ATC students, stating:
“I am looking forward to this partnership with Americans Helping Americans® and am very appreciative of the assistance and commitment Americans Helping Americans® has made toward helping our students be better equipped for high-demand, high-wage careers.”
