Partnership expands and strengthens human services workforce, provides new career opportunities and boosts existing workforce skills.
MANCHESTER, NH – Through an innovative partnership, The Moore Center and the International Institute of New England (IINE) are working together to provide English-language instruction to current and future direct-support professionals (DSPs).
The training program, hosted by The Moore Center, offers ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) classes tailored specifically to those who currently work as DSPs and to local jobseekers who work with IINE. The first cohort, which took place from July – September 2025, was made up of DSPs who wanted to strengthen their written and spoken English skills. Focusing on industry-specific vocabulary and documentation, every participant demonstrated measurable improvement in proficiency by the end of the 10-week program.
The most recent 16-week cohort, which graduated on March 6, brought together local jobseekers working with IINE who aimed to enhance their-career readiness by improving their English proficiency. Led by an IINE instructor, managers from The Moore Center provided insight into the direct care field and conducted hiring interviews with all participants. The Moore Center extended job offers to five program graduates with additional offers expected in the coming weeks.
“At The Moore Center, our mission is to create opportunities for a good life,” says Jen Meyer, vice president of operations administration. “This mission extends beyond those we support and encompasses our staff, our families and the community. For over 70 years, we’ve used our internal expertise to develop strong partnerships that expand our impact and also strengthen our city, state and region.”
The partnership between The Moore Center and IINE provides important economic mobility for its program participants while also developing a stronger talent pipeline for The Moore Center and other area organizations.
“In Manchester, in particular, there are a lot of jobseekers waiting to access English classes to improve their job prospects with demand often exceeding capacity,” shared Joseph Gilbert, associate director of ESOL at IINE. “IINE and other New Hampshire adult education providers are familiar with providing job readiness to the people who need it most and connecting directly to an employer like The Moore Center is a win-win for everyone.”