INA, Ill. – Rend Lake College is once again celebrating national Adult Education and Family Literacy Week Sept. 23-29 by encouraging adult students to enroll in the GED and other programs.

The week is recognized every year across the nation to celebrate adult education and family literacy programs, and the successes and achievements of those students. The programs serve adult students needing to improve upon basic literacy skills, math skills, or oral or written English, and to prepare for a high school equivalence degree, community college or vocational training.

“Throughout the year, the Adult Education staff works closely with community partners to ensure that class locations and times meet the needs of the students,” said Christina Hutcheson, Director of Adult Education at Rend Lake College.  “Our classes are all about meeting students were they are, both geographically and academically. We want to help students get on the road to their future. A GED certificate is not the end, it is only the beginning of their journey.”

Some of the community partners include the Department of Human Services, the United Methodist Children’s Home, local public schools and Head Start programs, and many others. These partners work with RLC to refer students, host class sites and provide services to the students.

Adult education programs nationwide are aimed at the 93 million American adults who have basic or below basic literacy skills that limit their ability to advance at work and in education, help their children with school work, take care of their family’s health and participate in their communities.

In addition to helping those students, adult education programs promote economic opportunity by giving students access to higher-paying jobs, providing options to become economically independent and improving opportunities for themselves and their children.

Research suggests that a high school diploma could amount to more than $250,000 per graduated student over a lifetime, yet there are 1.3 million high school dropouts annually. To worsen that statistic, by 2018, approximately 63 percent of jobs will require a postsecondary education, adding to the amount of schooling an individual may need to be successful.

Last year, Rend Lake enrolled 212 students in the GED program. Seats are open for this year’s program, which will begin enrolling Oct. 21. For questions or to enroll in RLC’s program, contact Christina Hutcheson at 618-437-5321, Ext. 1220.

INA, Ill. (Sept. 16, 2013) – A free CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) Conference is being held in Rend Lake College’s Theatre from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Friday, Oct. 18 for those interested in learning more about their field.

The conference is the first of its kind at RLC and will feature several sessions and guest speakers. First to speak will be Phil Gillespie, Ombudsman of Shawnee Alliance for Seniors in Carterville. He will speak about culture change.

Speaker Tracy McCord of Hospice of Southern Illinois will follow with a session on hospice care. Three breakout sessions will be available in the afternoon: communication, the language of culture change and hospice case study.

One attendee will be named the 2013 Outstanding CNA Award from a list of nominees of area long-term care facilities at 1 p.m. Door prizes and giveaways will also be given out throughout the conference, and vendors will be on hand to speak to participants.

“Rend Lake College is very excited to host the CNA Conference for the first time,” said Kim Robert, Dean of Allied Health. “The sessions and guest speakers will offer a great continuing education event for CNAs who attend, and it’s a great way for RLC to stay involved with our students and our community. We’re optimistic about the success of the conference and hope to host it every year.”

Each participant of the conference will receive 0.5 college credits for the day and certification of completion. The CNA Conference is sponsored by RLC, Certified Nursing Assistant Educator Association and Illinois Nurse Assistant/Aide Training Competency Evaluation Program of Southern Illinois University.

To register or for more information, contact the Community and Corporate Education Division at 618-437-5321, Ext. 1714. Registration can be done beforehand or the day of the conference.