Nonprofits eager to break into the grant writing arena can send participants to attend a series of three workshops, hosted by the Grant Resource Center at Northern Essex Community College.

The center and its workshops are supported in part by funding from The United Way of Massachusetts Bay & Merrimack Valley and Associated Grant Makers, and in collaboration with Jericho Road Lawrence.

The workshop series will be held at Northern Essex Community College’s Riverwalk campus at 360 Merrimack Street, Building 9, Entry K in Lawrence over the months of March and April.

The first class, “Introduction to Grants Research”, will be held on Wednesday, March 27 from 2 to 4 p.m. This workshop introduces participants to the world of philanthropy. It will cover grants research and how to approach foundations. In addition, participants will learn how to tell an organization’s story for best effect. There will be discussion of several databases that are critical to finding the right grant maker for an organization.

The second class, “Introduction to Grant Writing for Beginners”, will be held Wednesday, April 10, from 2 to 4 p.m. Participants will learn how to create a winning grant proposal. Different types of grant proposals will be examined including the typical components of a proposal and the steps in the process.

The third and final class, “Introduction to Grant Writing II for Beginners”, will be offered Wednesday, April 24, from 2 to 4 p.m. This is for individuals who have completed the second workshop or those who already have some experience in grant writing, but would like to take it to the next level. During this two-hour workshop individuals will learn how to plan a grant for maximum funding success; the secret language used by successful grant writers; how to think like a reviewer; simple ways to package a grant for maximum effect; grant writing do’s and don’ts based upon well written sample grants. The workshop will provide time for interaction with concrete examples and lively discussion.

Seats in these courses fill up quickly so those interested are encouraged to register early. The cost for each workshop is $30.

NECC’s Grant Resource Center offers free access to The Foundation Directory Online for Professionals at the library in the Dimitry Building, 45 Franklin Street, Lawrence.

For additional information, contact Dawna Perez at dperez@necc.mass.edu or call (978) 738-7605.

A free, 50-hour program to train personal and home care aides will be offered at Northern Essex Community College through its Workforce Development and Community Education program at the Riverwalk in Lawrence thanks to a federal grant.

Classes will be held Monday through Friday, February 25 through March 8 from 9 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. Students must attend all training days in order to successfully complete the program. This program is designed to teach students the skills that will support them in their role as a personal care attendant or homemaker.

In Massachusetts personal care aides earn a set rate of $12.68 an hour while working for an independent consumer employer. On average, homecare aides earn between $10 and $11 an hour working for a home care agency.

Fifteen students can be accommodated in this first session.

There is currently a great demand for direct care employees to provide personal care services such as bathing, dressing, foot care, denture care, and walking as a personal assistant to shopping, meal planning and preparation, laundry, and light housekeeping as a homemaker.

A critical shortage of direct care workers is expected due to a projected 51-70% growth in the elder and disabled population by 2020.

This program will provide the core skills and knowledge to work in this growing field and can also be the starting point for anyone interested in training for other types of healthcare jobs in the future.

For additional information or to register, contact Dianne Lahaye at dlahaye@necc.mass.edu or 978-659-1222 or Diane Zold-Gross at dzoldgross@necc.mass.edu or 978-659-1221.

This program is funded through the MA Personal and Home Care Aide State Training (PHCAST) Grant ProjectT82HP20323 funded by US HHS.

Dr. William Heineman, vice president of academic affairs, Northern Essex Community College, is pleased to announce the appointment of students to the Dean’s List for the Fall  2012 term.

To be included, students must attain a grade point average of 3.3 or higher within the term, carry six or more credits within the term, and be matriculated in a degree program.

With campuses in Haverhill and Lawrence and extension sites in Methuen and Groveland, Northern Essex Community College is a state-assisted college, offering over 70 associate degree and certificate programs as well as hundreds of noncredit courses designed for personal enrichment and career growth. More than 7,300 students are enrolled in credit associate degree and certificate programs on the Haverhill and Lawrence campuses; and another 6,700 take non-credit workforce development and community education classes on campus, and at businesses and community sites across the Merrimack Valley. Northern Essex is the only state college located in the lower Merrimack Valley Region of Massachusetts.

For more information, visit the website at www.necc.mass.edu.

Dean’s list students include: 2012 Fall Deans List