COURSES TO EMPLOYMENT DEMONSTRATION SITES

Six partnerships were selected for the Courses to Employment demonstration from approximately 100 national applicants. Each partnership will receive $100,000 each year of the demonstration to finance program operations and some evaluation activities.

The six projects selected to participate in the three-year Courses to Employment demonstration are:

The Automobile Career Pathways Project in Seattle, Washington is a partnership between the Workforce Development Council of Seattle-King County and Shoreline Community College. The Automobile Career Pathways Project will build on Shoreline Community College’s General Service Technician (GST) training program. The GST program is designed to provide industry-recognized, entry-level automotive service skills training to adult basic education and English-as-a-Second Language learners. With funding through CTE, this new project will help GST graduates after they have become employed in automotive service jobs by implementing a centralized advancement and retention strategy. The Workforce Development Council will support Shoreline Community College by procuring an individual to work with graduates over a three-year period to identify advancement opportunities and overcome barriers to additional education and skills acquisition. Because the Workforce Development Council is a workforce intermediary organization that leads the area’s WorkSource system, this project will provide CTE with insights on the ways in which nonprofit WIA operators collaborate with community colleges to provide education and employment opportunities for low-wage workers.

Capital IDEA/ACC Partnership in Austin and Round Rock, Texas is a partnership between Capital IDEA – established by leaders of Austin Interfaith and the business community – and Austin Community College. CTE funding will be used to support this partnership by providing financial and supportive services to low-income participants seeking associates degrees and/or certification in high-demand allied health fields. Capital IDEA assists low-income adults in central Texas to attend college and obtain degrees by providing intensive wrap-around services and case management; financial sponsorship of tuition, fees and books; financial assistance with child care, transportation, and emergency living expenses; innovative class structures, study groups and tutoring; and a College Prep Academy for those students who need additional developmental aid before enrolling in Austin Community College courses.

Carreras en Salud (Careers in Health) in Chicago, Illinois is a partnership between the Instituto del Progreso Latino, Association House of Chicago, Wright College Humboldt Park Vocational Education Center and the National Council of La Raza. Carreras en Salud is designed to address the shortage of bilingual nurses in the Chicago area and simultaneously provide career advancement opportunities to under-employed Latino health care workers by creating a pathway from certified nursing assistant to licensed practical nurse. In addition, a number of area health care providers support this initiative by providing their sites for students to engage in clinical experiences as well as hiring students who successfully complete the program. Courses to Employment funding will be used to strengthen Carreras en Salud by intensifying academic and personal advising and counseling, and providing supportive services to students in non-academic areas; enhancing the college’s capacity to collect and report data relevant to this initiative; and building the project’s ability to engage health care employers at various levels of its work.

The Flint Healthcare Employment Opportunities Project in Flint, Michigan is a partnership involving the Greater Flint Health Coalition and Mott Community College. The Flint project will help low-income residents of Genesee County (including Flint’s Renewal Community) to advance from entry-level and certified nursing assistant jobs into high-demand nursing and allied health positions. The project will provide participants with the needed support to enter into and complete training at Mott Community College. The Flint Healthcare Employment Opportunities Project was selected to participate in this initiative through a special Home Community Grant from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, which has a particular interest in supporting initiatives within its home city of Flint.

The Logistics/Transportation Academy in Los Angeles, California is a broad partnership involving Community Career Development, Inc., Los Angeles Valley College, East Los Angeles College and Los Angeles City College. The Logistics/Transportation Academy prepares low-income adults with skills to enter this fast growing, high-demand industry. The project also includes a Bridge Program for METRO (the local transit authority) that provides pre-employment training to help fill vacant bus operator positions. In addition, a series of industry specific training modules is being designed in collaboration with industry partners to build upon entry-level training, leading to a recognized certificate and/or an associate degree. Participants have access to intensive case management, assistance with child care, transportation, tuition waivers, books and other financial needs. Expungement workshops are offered for individuals with criminal backgrounds.

The NOVA-NVFS Training Futures “Steps to Success” Model in Fairfax County, Virginia is a partnership between Northern Virginia Family Service and the Northern Virginia Community College. CTE funds will help to advance operational integration among the two partners as they continue to train low-wage workers for positions in business and medical settings. Training Futures’ curriculum provides 25 weeks of credit-earning skills training in partnership with Northern Virginia Community College, including a three-week internship. The program is designed to support non-traditional students by providing supportive services to respond to a range of family needs, additional classroom time designed to aid students with limited English-language skills, assistance in navigating college enrollment and financial aid processes, and business immersion experience through internships, mentoring and coaching by volunteers from the business community.