REACH Literacy Helps Avera Employees Reach Their Potential

In a city with as much diversity as Sioux Falls, Avera’s workforce reflects this diversity.

According to recent data, there are nearly 80 different languages currently spoken in Sioux Falls schools. Every day, Avera caregivers encounter employees and patients whose primary language is one that’s other than English.

Avera is proud to work with REACH Literacy, a program dedicated to teaching English literacy skills to those who wish to gain a better grasp on the language. It’s one of several programs Avera offers to help employees advance their careers by building confidence, communication and leadership skills and advancing education efforts.

“We know employees want to continue to grow both personally and professionally and partnerships like these are key to developing skills,” said Pam Hilber, Director of Talent Development at Avera. “Hitomi is a wonderful example of how this program is helping people in real time.”

Since January, 14 Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center employees have chalked up close to 240 total hours of class time.

Gaining Confidence in English

One of these employees is Hitomi Yoshida, of Kamaishi, Iwate, Japan. Hitomi, who was a dietitian in Japan, came to the United States in 2012 with little to no knowledge of the English language. Hitomi started learning English when she moved to the states. Living first in San Francisco, she did two years of college but then moved to Sioux Falls and was soon hired as part of the food service team at Avera McKennan assembling patient meals.

After a handful of years, Hitomi wanted to gain more confidence in her English literacy and found out about REACH Literacy classes offered at Avera. REACH was originally founded as a prison ministry called the Sioux Falls Area Literacy Council. Over the years the program evolved into a mission to help people thrive through literacy education across the region.

This past year, Hitomi, along with 10 other students, completed the year-long course.

“The teacher was great. Everyone in the class wanted to improve their English and were working so hard to get better,” Hitomi said.

Career Growth Thanks to REACH Program

Hitomi’s improved English skills had an immediate impact. In May, she was hired at the Avera Behavioral Health Hospital as a Dietetic Assistant. In her new role, Hitomi works heavily in their computer system to help log special diets for patients, keep track of food allergies, catch errors in tickets, and manage supplement requests.

At first, Hitomi was nervous about her new position because it involved her going to the units and interacting with the patients. Even as she grew more and more confident in her English, she was apprehensive about communicating with patients because she didn’t want to be misunderstood. Her fears were quickly alleviated.

“The patients are so kind with me, it’s very helpful,” said Hitomi.

Because of the REACH program, Hitomi says she now has the confidence to do things she previously couldn’t – like going to appointments by herself.

Read more stories about Avera employees.