CNA Information Booklet

The Alliance for Multicultural Community Services
6440 Hillcroft St #411, Houston, TX 77081
(713) 776-4700
The Alliance
C.N.A Program
Information Booklet

(713) 776-4700
Table of Content
About US
About the C.N.A Program
Role of C.N.A
Nursing Assistant Daily Task
C.N.A Pay and Benefits
What You Need To Know About C.N.A Licensing In Texas

(713) 776-4700
About the Alliance
Since our inception in July of 1985—nearly thirty years ago—Alliance for Multicultural
Community Services has managed to transform the lives of countless refugees. The Alliance
aspires to help people achieve independence and success as they acclimatize to their new lives
here in the United States.
The Alliance’s Programs:
Refugee Resettlement Services
The goal of the Refugee Resettlement Program is to promote early self-sufficiency and cultural
adjustment among newly arrived refugees. The program provides core services in a linguistically
and culturally appropriate manner for recently arrived refugees, who have fled their countries
because of war or persecution. Alliance is a resettlement affiliate/branch office of the Ethiopian
Community Development Council, Inc. (ECDC). Through ECDC, we provide Reception and
Placement (R&P) services. These R&P activities are paid for, in part, through financial assistance
by the Department of State.
R & P Services:
The Reception & Placement Services provided to refugees are: airport pick-up, initial housing,
furnishings, food, clothing, and orientation. Additionally, we provide counseling and assistance
in accessing programs and benefits for which refugees are eligible. For example, transportation
assistance, medical and employment referrals, school enrollment, sponsorship of relatives
overseas, and assistance with applications for Social Security, Food Stamps, and Medicaid.Core
services are made available for at least 30 days after a refugee’s arrival, while Reception and
Placement follow-up and self-sufficiency services are provided at a minimum, for the first 180
days of a refugee’s arrival.
Matching Grant:
Refugees receive cash assistance and employment either through the Matching Grant program
or Refugee Cash Assistance. The goal of the Matching Grant program is to guide refugee
households toward economic self-sufficiency within six months of eligibility. Economic self-
sufficiency means earning a total family income at a level that enables a family unit to support
itself without receipt of additional cash assistance. MG offers refugees short-term cash, rental,

(713) 776-4700
and medical assistance; employment training and placement, and extra focus on support
services, such as English language instruction, childcare and transportation subsidies. MG tends
to give more help at first, but end sooner. It is beneficial for clients who can secure
employment quickly.
Refugee Cash Assistant:
Refugees receive cash assistance and employment either through the Matching Grant program
or Refugee Cash Assistance. Through this program, participants receive cash and rental
assistance during their first four months while their total income is less than 125% of the
Federal Poverty Income Level. Participants receive cash assistance during their 5th-8th months
if their income is less than 165% of the Federal Poverty Income Level.
Preferred Communities:
The Preferred Community Program offers intensive case management services to clients with
special needs, including single mothers, youth without parents, seniors who lack family support
and those with mental health and medical needs. Through one-on-one assistance, case
managers assist clients who require extended help in order to integrate and adjust.
Social Adjustment Services:
Social Adjustment Services are aimed at addressing the barriers that refugees typically face and
strengthen the ability of a refugee individual, family, or refugee community to achieve and
maintain economic self-sufficiency, family stability, and community integration.
Refugees resettling in Houston, Texas are able to participate in a consortium-wide provision of
comprehensive services, a unique model partnering five of Houston’s major resettlement
agencies to provide holistic, culturally and linguistically competent and cost effective services to
refugees. With Alliance as the lead agency, this long standing model partnership of social
adjustment services has successfully assisted thousands with the acculturation process and with
becoming self-sufficient.
Case Managers serve refugees through orientation, advocacy, and active assistance with service
access. The SAS program hold regular Refugee Health Education events. These health fairs
provide refugees and low-income residents with critical services such as health screening and
vaccinations. The SAS program has also developed a mental health assessment tool with Dr.
Banu of the Center for International Trauma Survivors, which has led to greater awareness of
mental health issues and capacity to refer individuals to follow-up care.
Employment Services:

(713) 776-4700
Alliance Employment Counselors provide intensive job search assistance, job readiness and job
skills training for refugees and asylees. Alliance assists approximately 750 individuals annually.
The Employment Counselors regularly lead orientations that are directly related to job
readiness and retention. The Job Orientation sessions are based on strong evidence that
culturally-competent, small group instruction is highly effective at helping participants acquire
new skills and knowledge. The Employment Department also organizes quarterly job fairs,
which are well attended by employers and refugee clients.
After a participant is placed successfully in a job, the Employment Counselors provide follow-up
services for several months. In terms of long-term support, our Employment Department
reaches out to refugees resettled within the past five years to encourage them to attend job
fairs, vocational training and other events or classes.
Alliance Language Network
Interpreters:
Our interpreters are the voice for your multilingual customers and the communication medium
between your customers and service representatives. That voice must be accurate, clear, and
precise. That voice must also consistently demonstrate the ability to accurately conserve the
meaning of a source language when rendering it into English—at an efficient pace without
omissions or additions. That’s the goal of AMCS’s Language Without Boundaries basic
interpreter training program, which culminates in advanced-level certification opportunities.
Benefits:
According to latest US Census, more than 46 million people, or approximately 17 percent of the
U.S. population, speak a language other than English in their homes, a number that is projected
to increase in the coming decades. For this growing portion of the population, poor
communication while accessing social& healthcare services can result in serious consequences.
Adult Education and Training Program:
ESL Classes:
ESL classes are offered from 9AM-12PM, 12:30 PM- 3:30PM, and 5:30PM to 8:30PM. All class
are Monday-Thursday. Students are expected to attend a minimum of 75% of all classes, and
are progress tested after 60 hours. AMCS offers four levels of instruction; Basic, Beginning,
Intermediate, and Advanced. All students are required to attend an orientation, conducted in
the students’ native language whenever possible, prior to enrolling in class (see orientation
schedule for days and times). Students must register in person, and a valid picture ID is

(713) 776-4700
required, social security cards are preferred. Attendance on the first day of classes is
mandatory.
Low cost childcare is offered for children ages six months to 6 years while their parents attend
classes. The cost is $100 per ten week session, per child. Due to high demand, there is a limit of
two children per parent for morning classes. Current vaccination records are required for
children prior to enrollment. AMCS Adult Education collaborates with Houston Metro in order
to provide Q cards for students at a 50% discount.
Workforce Training Classes:
AMCS, in partnership with Houston Community College and the United Way of Greater Houston
is now offering AutoCAD training with a contextualized support class. Houston Community
College provides an instructor to conduct the skills training, so the students receive a certificate
from HCC upon successful completion of the program. The support class consists of
contextualized reading, writing, and math for AutoCAD as well as career planning, job search as
well as resume and cover letter writing as well as interviewing practice. This model of training
allows students to quickly complete certificate programs in high demand occupations while
improving their English and other basic skills including job readiness, resume writing, and job
search skills with a curriculum specifically designed for the occupation for which they are
training. This model also allows AMCS to enroll students at lower functioning level than would
normally be accepted for a training program because the students are receiving the support of
the adult education instructor in English, reading, writing and math that is directly related to
what they are learning in the skills training classes. This model has been extremely successful in
getting students through the training programs successfully, and into jobs. All job training
participants also enroll with our Financial Opportunity Center in order to take advantage of
their bundled services. Upon enrolling in the program, students will be able to utilize the
following services—income support counseling, career and financial coaching in order to
achieve financial stability and mobility. In addition to coaching, our center offers several asset
building tools for individuals, including the Small Business Administration (SBA), Credit Builder,
and IDA (Individual Development Account) and Matched Savings programs. For more
information on eligibility and how to enroll, please see our flyers below.
Vocational ESL:
Program
AMCS will be offering Vocational English as A Second Language (VESL) classes at AMCS’ Hillcroft
location and the Los Arcos Apartment Complex. Classes will be offered Monday – Saturday in
the mornings, afternoons and evenings to accommodate all schedules.

(713) 776-4700
Class will consist of instruction in English as A Second Language, including listening, speaking,
reading, writing, and life skills such as job readiness, job search, financial literacy and interview
preparation skills for students who are unable to communicate in English.
Tuition & Fees
$640
Classes are 8 weeks (96 hours)
Financial aid available for some students
Services
General Orientation
Job placement assistance
Resume development
Interview preparation
Referral to Dress for Success
Financial Opportunity Program:
The Asset Building Program is an integral part of our organization. The program focuses on
developing sustainable resources to provide Individual Development Account Program (IDA) for
the creation of wealth-building assets (i.e. home, post-secondary education and micro
enterprise) among the low-income population.
We also focus a great deal on developing and sustaining resources to provide small business
training, financing and technical assistance to low-income people and minorities that wants to
start their own business.
The strategy for economic development is to recruit existing and potential entrepreneurs from
the low-income community and equip them with training, and provide them micro-loans and
technical assistance in order to assist themto develop their potential and enhance their
economic wellbeing thereby creating additional jobs and economically revitalizing the area and
their community..

(713) 776-4700
Youth Program:
The mission of the Kijana Youth Program is to serve school-aged children in the Houston area
through after-school youth empowerment classes which cover computer technology, life skills,
and recreational and cultural activities, including music, field trips, and volunteer projects. Staff
counselors encourage youth leadership and service and also tutor students to improve
performance at school.
Driver’s Education:
All TEA certified and bilingual (some even trilingual), our instructors effectively teach
participants how to drive through classroom lessons and on-the-wheel training. Their
multiculturalism lends a hand to their patience and ability to understand a variety of
participants and communicate at an optimal level.
The benefits of refugees, or any eligible driver, participating in our program are indispensable.
Because Houston is a very wide spread city, relying on public transportation can disadvantage
individuals. By completing our program and obtaining a driver’s license, persons have the
potential to buy their own car, which increases their employment opportunities, flexibility in
scheduling appointments or attending classes.
ACA Health Insurance Navigators
The Alliance is offering assistance with enrollment in Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace
Health Plans. The ACA Marketplace is a new way to find coverage for health insurance.
Navigators can be reached Monday – Friday, 8:30am – 5:30pm at (713) 595-8647. Bilingual
Navigators are available.
Naya Alliance Designs Program:
Naya Alliance Designs provides an intensive, tutition-free course aimed at helping clients who
have a sewing background to become more self-sufficient and increase their English language
skills. The classes cover a broad range of sewing skills, financial literacy, customer service skills,
and marketing strategies. Naya Alliance Designs teachers introduce students to fair-trade stores
and help them navigate buying supplies. The students learn to sew on a serge machine, new
stitches, to follow patterns and to choose fabrics. Several of our refugee tailors’ designs and
custom clothes have been featured at the Langford Market Boutique, World Refugee Day,
cultural festivals and in the Houston Chronicle. The Alliance is working with Houston-based
designers to help secure more contract work for Naya Alliance Designs students and help fund
additional classes. The extra income that the women earn for themselves and their families can
be critical to gaining financial independence. For questions, more information, or requests,
please contact Nnenna Amugo at namugo@allianceontheweb.org

(713) 776-4700
About the C.N.A Program
Age Requirement: 18 years old
Length of the Program: 4 Weeks
Cost to be in the Program: $100 per participant
Requirements:
1.) Must attended the 3 workshops hosted by the Alliance
a. Financial Workshop
b. Customer Service Workshop
c. Resume / Interview Workshop
2.) Must pass criminal backgrounds Check
3.) Pay AMCS $100.00 (training cost). Fees are subject to change, based upon expenses,a 30-
day notice will be given if this occurs. Fee is to be paid before the first day of class.
4.) Complete the Job Readiness, Customer Service Training, First Aid, and Hospice 101 training
prior to completing the CNA training. Student must have created a resume in Job Readiness
workshop.
5.) Students are expected to attend all classes and well as be on time for classes. Student cannot
miss any time during their internship. This would be grounds for dismissal from the program.
6.) High School Diploma
7.) Must pass the State Exam
Forms:
1.) Valid Social Security Card
2.) Submit General Health Form
3.) Certified Nurse Assistant- Convictions Barring Employment Form
4.) Release and Waiver of Claims
5.) Drug/ Firearm Free Environment
6.) Background Check Authorization Form

(713) 776-4700
Role of C.N.A
Your regular responsibilities as a nursing assistant will vary based on where you
work or live. Nursing assistants can work in a wide variety of settings; nursing
homes, hospitals, adult day care centers, personal homes and assisted living
facilities all require nursing assistants to act as a helpful liaison between the RN
or LPN and the patient. In many cases, the nursing assistant serves as the RN’s
or LPN’s eyes and ears, and relays information between many patients and one
or two RNs.
The nursing assistant fulfills basic quality-of-life needs for patients of any age,
ethnicity or gender in residential nursing care facilities or outpatient clinics. Since
nursing assistants have daily contact with patients, they are gatherers of vital
information about the patients’ conditions, which they must then transmit to their
supervisors. A CNA’s workload can become intense and fast-paced, but the
human contact and ability to help those in medical need is a strong motivating
factor. A desire to help people and compassion for patients can help a nurse’s
assistant get through difficult days.
Nursing assistants interact with the public as well as acting as a liaison between
patients and registered nurses or licensed practicing nurses. Duties of a CNA
may include:
 Gathering Information: CNAs test vital signs, order blood tests, take
temperatures, and ask questions of patients to form a dossier of information so
that the nurse or physician can get right to the point when they see a patient.
 Keeping Records: Maintaining records of patient information is largely the
purview of billing and coding specialists, but as the primary gatherers of certain
types of private patient info, CNAs are an integral cog in the medical data tracking
machine.
 Bedside Patient Care: CNAs may need to care for disabled or anesthetized
patients while they recover, sometimes on a continual basis. Patience and empathy
are crucial skills to stay happy as a CNA.

(713) 776-4700
 Availability: Many CNAs work in residential facilities, and must simply be available
if a client needs them. This means working nights, weekends, and holidays
sometimes, though it is unlikely an individual CNA would work only these
undesirable shifts.

(713) 776-4700
Nursing Assistant Daily Task
Answer patient call signals, signal lights, bells, or intercom systems to determine patients'
needs.
Turn or reposition bedridden patients.
Provide physical support to assist patients to perform daily living activities, such as getting out of
bed, bathing, dressing, using the toilet, standing, walking, or exercising.
Review patients' dietary restrictions, food allergies, and preferences to ensure patient receives
appropriate diet.
Measure and record food and liquid intake or urinary and fecal output, reporting changes to
medical or nursing staff.
Record vital signs, such as temperature, blood pressure, pulse, or respiration rate, as directed
by medical or nursing staff.
Gather information from caregivers, nurses, or physicians about patient condition, treatment
plans, or appropriate activities.
Observe or examine patients to detect symptoms that may require medical attention, such as
bruises, open wounds, or blood in urine.
Document or otherwise report observations of patient behavior, complaints, or physical
symptoms to nurses.
Remind patients to take medications or nutritional supplements.
Feed patients or assist patients to eat or drink.
Supply, collect, or empty bedpans.
Undress, wash, and dress patients who are unable to do so for themselves.
Lift or assist others to lift patients to move them on or off beds, examination tables, surgical
tables, or stretchers.
Communicate with patients to ascertain feelings or need for assistance or social and emotional
support.
Prepare or serve food trays.
Clean and sanitize patient rooms, bathrooms, examination rooms, or other patient areas.
Record height or weight of patients.
Collect specimens, such as urine, feces, or sputum.
Apply clean dressings, slings, stockings, or support bandages, under direction of nurse or
physician.
Change bed linens or make beds.

(713) 776-4700
Restock patient rooms with personal hygiene items, such as towels, washcloths, soap, or toilet
paper.
Exercise patients who are comatose, paralyzed, or have restricted mobility.
Wash, groom, shave, or drape patients to prepare them for surgery, treatment, or examination.
Assist nurses or physicians in the operation of medical equipment or provision of patient care.
Administer medications or treatments, such as catheterizations, suppositories, irrigations,
enemas, massages, or douches, as directed by a physician or nurse.
Position or hold patients in position for surgical preparation.
Transport patients to treatment units, testing units, operating rooms, or other areas, using
wheelchairs, stretchers, or moveable beds.
Provide information such as directions, visiting hours, or patient status information to visitors or
callers.
Transport specimens, laboratory items, or pharmacy items, ensuring proper documentation and
delivery to authorized personnel.
Set up treating or testing equipment, such as oxygen tents, portable radiograph (x-ray)
equipment, or overhead irrigation bottles, as directed by a physician or nurse.
Explain medical instructions to patients or family members. Stock or issue medical supplies,
such as dressing packs or treatment trays.

(713) 776-4700
C.N.A Pay and Benefits
CNA pay and benefits will depend on where you work, but the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
2014-15 Occupational Outlook Handbook lists the annual median salary for CNAs as $24,400. The
lowest 10 percent earn less than $18,300, but the top 10 percent earn $35,330.
It's important to note that many CNAs are paid on an hourly basis so you may have an opportunity to
pick up more hours to fill in for other CNAs who are using sick or vacation time.
Your geographic location is also a factor in how much you can make as a certified nursing assistant.
According to the BLS, the median annual wages in the top-paying states are:
 Alaska: $37,180
 Nevada: $33,000
 New York: $32,470
 Connecticut: $31,940
 District of Columbia: $30,940
Although CNA pay and benefits may not be robust, there are plenty of benefits to becoming a
certified nursing assistant. Not only will you get the fulfillment of knowing you're helping others feel
better, but it can also be a solid stepping stone in your nursing career. If you decide to head back to
school to become an RN, some programs will give you credit for CNA work experience.

(713) 776-4700

(713) 776-4700
What You Need To Know About C.N.A Licensing In Texas
Certification Requirements In Texas
In Texas, the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services regulates all CNA training
programs and certifications. For you to obtain CNA certification in Texas, you must undergo at
least 100 hours of approved training. This should include approximately 60 hours of classroom
instruction and 40 hours of hands-on practical training. Upon completion of your training, you will
need to achieve a passing score on Pearson Vue's CNA certification exam.
How To Get Your CNA Certification In Texas
One of the reasons more and more people are choosing to train for a CNA career in Texas today
is the fact that the certification process is incredibly easy. You simply need to attain an
acceptable score on your certification exam, and you will be awarded certification and placement
on Texas' Nurse Aide Registry for an initial period of two years.
How To Verify Your CNA Certification In Texas
If there comes a time when you need to check your CNA status in Texas, go to the Texas
Department of Aging and Disability Services website and navigate as follows: Doing Business
With DADS, Nurse Aide Registry, and Search Texas Nurse Aide Registry. This will direct you
to the Pearson Vue search tool that you can use to verify your status.
How To Renew Your CNA Certification In Texas
In Texas, you will need to renew your CNA certification every two years. You can find the
proper renewal form by navigating through the Department of Aging and Disability Services
website as follows: Doing Business With DADS, Nurse Aide Registry, Forms, and Employment
Verification.
How To Reinstate Your CNA Certification In Texas
If you cannot prove that you worked at least one full-time shift as a CNA in Texas prior to your
renewal date, you will need to reinstate your certification. So long as there is not a significant
lapse in your certification, you can reinstate your status by retaking the certification exam.
How To Transfer Your CNA Certification From Texas To Another State
Do you need to transfer your CNA certification out of Texas to a different state? If you do, you
will need to contact the agency that oversees CNA certifications in the other state. The National
Council of State Boards of Nursing can assist you in locating the appropriate agency. While most
states accept transfers through reciprocity, some have other transfer criteria that you will need to
fulfill.

CNA Information Booklet

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