Caroline Friess Center, Inc.

Caroline Center contributes to the building of a thriving Baltimore by providing a transformative experience for women to excel at home, on the job, and in the community. Believing that to change one life we can change the world, we inspire and prepare women for a lifetime of well-being. Practically speaking, we work with Baltimore City women who are seeking to make positive changes in their lives, changes that involve securing employment that will provide them with a steady income and a career with a future. We provide state-accredited training jobs that lead to certification as nursing assistants or pharmacy technicians, both of which are entry-level positions within the allied health care industry where there are numerous career pathways available to pursue. Our goal is for every woman who walks through our doors to emerge as an EPIC woman—Empowered, Professional, In-demand, and Career-ready. We strive to graduate 80% of women enrolled in our training programs and then place 80% of all graduates in jobs within six to twelve months. Because we consider our graduates Caroline Center "members for life," we provide ongoing, unlimited support to all our graduates through our Academic and Career Advancement program.

Our trainings programs—held three times each year—span 15 weeks and encompass both classroom and hands-on job skills training that culminates in state certification as a certified nursing assistant (CNA) or pharmacy technician (PT). Program curriculum includes “essential skills” components such as lessons in life skills/problem solving, career planning, financial literacy, computers, communications, and developing one’s employability skills. Additionally, we provide support services (e.g. personal counseling and social work services) that are designed to help the women identify and address barriers to program completion and employment (e.g. transportation, childcare, legal issues). We provide individualized job-placement support to all graduates during the first year following graduation. Because change takes time, we remain committed to our graduates for life. Through our Academic and Career Advancement program, we assist alumnae in identifying and obtaining additional professional training and certifications, educational opportunities, and college scholarships. We also provide general career planning services, including assistance with resumes, cover letters, job applications, and interview prep.

Since welcoming its first training class in 1996, Caroline Center developed a strong reputation in the community and throughout Baltimore City as an organization that is committed to the city's women and known to have an impact on their lives. The mission is carried out by a dedicated staff of experienced professionals who are overseen by a Board of Trustees comprising lay and religious volunteers who understand the value of the center's work. Caroline Center partners with various agencies and organizations throughout the Baltimore area (Baltimore City Department of Social Services, Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service, MECU, PNC, Roberta's House, School of Nursing at Notre Dame of Maryland University, to name a few) to ensure its trainees are connected with the very best resources available. Additionally, Caroline Center maintains strong relationships with over thirty local health care employers who serve as clinical/externship sites for trainees as well as employers of Caroline Center graduates. The organization operates with a lean budget that is supported by the founding order School Sisters of Notre Dame, government agencies, private and corporate foundations, generous individual donors, as well as endowment and investment income.

Since 1996, we have trained over 3,000 women for jobs as means of improving their economic situations and achieving greater financial stability. Through the years, we have remained in touch with many of our graduates and are always overjoyed to learn how they leveraged their experience at Caroline Center to launch successful careers and change their own lives and those of their families. One graduate was able to build a career with one employer that helped her successfully end her family's experience with homelessness, land a management-level position, and earn a scholarship to go to college for her bachelor's degree. Another completed a Master's in Social Work from Morgan State University. Many others credit Caroline Center as the reason they built the economic security that made it possible for them to buy their first home. These stories illustrate how Caroline Center can serve as a catalyst for change in the lives of women seeking greater economic stability through employment, helping them create a brighter future for themselves and their families. We look forward to many more years of supporting Baltimore women as they endeavor to reach their full potential.