In May, Latifah Lenton completed medical training with the help of CareerSource Northeast Florida (CareerSource NEFL) and is about to embark on a new career.
Lenton is now a certified phlebotomy technician. Phlebotomy technicians can work in hospitals, clinics, and blood donation agencies like One Blood Northeast Florida, collect blood from patients, and prepare the samples for testing. They are important healthcare team members and often need to explain the blood-drawing procedure and put patients at ease during the process.
A Jacksonville native and First Coast High School graduate, Lenton says she had worked many retail and fast-food jobs before finding out about a possible career in the medical industry and how the organization could help.
At the beginning of the year, Medical Career Healthcare Training, a third-party provider for CareerSource NEFL, had a mobile unit at Lenton’s apartment complex and promoted the need to fill medical positions in the community.
“They came out here and spoke with many of us, and I was interested, so I shared my diploma and other information with them,” she said. “I think I was the only one in the complex who followed up on the opportunity, and I’m glad I did.”
Lenton qualified for the CareerSource NEFL Individual Training Account (ITA) program, which provided full funding for the support training that leads a job seeker to an in-demand job.
She says she’s always had a passion for helping others.
“Since the first day I met with Cynthia Smith and Cheryl Scott (CareerSource NEFL team members at Gateway Career Center), they have been more than helpful to me in fulfilling that passion,” Lenton said. “I am so grateful to have the opportunity to meet these ladies. Not only did they help me find my career path, but they also helped mold me into becoming the best version of myself for me and my family.”
In June, Lenton was already receiving calls from possible employers and expected to be accepting a position soon.
“I don’t know how much more I can thank CareerSource NEFL and Medical Career Healthcare Training for believing in me and working with me,” she said. “I’m not below holding a regular job, but I knew I was better than that. I had worked in fast-food restaurants before, but I needed a career. Thanks to their help and support, I have a career path now.”