So, who can a single mother of two who lives an hour away from the nearest nursing school count on to make her dream of becoming a forensic nurse possible?

Unquestionably, it’s Western Nevada College’s ROADS program. The new Realizing Opportunities for the American Dream to Succeed program is helping retrain people such as WNC Registered Nursing student Alba Morales for new careers so they can contribute to the state’s economy.

The program is a collaboration between WNC and the Nevada Department of Employment Training and Rehabilitation (DETR). They assist unemployed and underemployed Nevadans by providing them with educational training and skills needed for positions that are in high-demand occupations and industries.

For Morales, she feels fortunate that she can pursue her dream while her children are so young. Through grant funding provided by ROADS’s partnership with DETR, Morales is able to concentrate on the rigorous Nursing program at WNC.

“ROADS makes that happen,” Morales said. “The program isn't just there for you to be a good student. They want you to be balanced at home just as much as school and they want to help in any way they can. Their goal is to see you get the job you want, find the right courses to take and see that you have the right tools to achieve it, and that speaks volumes to underprivileged people that never thought it could be possible to get a college education.”

Morales is also thankful that her best friend has been able to care for her children when she’s at school and working at Carson Tahoe Hospital.

“I have an amazing best friend who wants to see me become a nurse, I think, more than I do! She's such a great person and is always there for me at the drop of a hat and has solutions to any and all hiccups that can occur,” Morales said. “I could call her right now and tell her that I need her to watch my two kids at 6:30 a.m. and she'll just say, ‘You know the door code’ (to my security system),’ and I'll know my kids will be safe, and if they're hungry, they'll be fed, and if they need cuddles, her daughter is my daughter's best friend and my toddler loves my best friend as much as I do.”

Before receiving help from ROADS, Morales was unemployed and taking Certified Nursing Assistant courses to fulfill the requirements to be considered for admittance to WNC’s Nursing program. In stepped ROADS to make sure Morales’ dream didn’t get delayed or crushed.

“Michael (Boreham) has been supportive since day one, trying to find out if there's something he can do to help me reach my goals and seeing how the program could possibly alleviate any type of financial burden or any kind of obstacle that is in my way,” Morales said. “It's very refreshing to see how you could have someone in your corner helping you along the way of your educational journey and has all the best intentions in making sure you can achieve your goals.”

As a first-year RN student who is already working at Carson Tahoe Hospital, Morales is well on her way to improving her professional career and providing more financial security for her family.

“Alba has shown tremendous commitment not only to her academic program but to the ROADS program as well,” said Michael Boreham, a workforce development liaison for WNC’s ROADS program. “She has been a major piece to the success of the program and is a shining example to the other ROADS students.”

To learn more about WNC’s ROADS program, go to wnc.edu/roads and contact Boreham at 775-470-9242 or michael.boreham@wnc.edu.