Employment, education and nonprofit organizations in Iowa have partnered to create a Direct Care Professionals Training Program to address the shortage of qualified direct care professionals and provide employment opportunities to unemployed or underemployed individuals. The pilot program, free to participants, is a partnership of Central Iowa Works, Des Moines Area Community College Continuing Education, Easter Seals Iowa, The Evelyn K. Davis Center for Working Families and Iowa Employment Solutions. Direct care professionals provide support to individuals to meet health care needs, maintain housing, manage finances, utilize transportation and learn daily living skills. Intake sessions begin today for the course, which will be held May 18 to June 12 at Easter Seals Iowa in Des Moines. For more information or to register, contact Soneeta Mangra-Dutcher at Central Iowa Works, (515)-243-2130 orsoneeta@centraliowaworks.org.