Weekly Roundup of the news on women and supportive services in job training programs.

By Asha DuMonthier

Job training can provide an entry into family-sustaining jobs and careers. Many women in job training programs, however, face obstacles to success. Wraparound services—such as child care assistance, access to public benefits, and transportation or housing assistance—can help adults, particularly those with caregiving responsibilities, to complete programs that will ultimately improve their economic standing.


June 8, 2016

TribTalk: Texas needs a new approach to poverty

Their CareerAdvance program offers job training in the health care industry for parents, addressing and removing traditional barriers such as childcare, transportation and costs for books.

[…] Nonprofits do not necessarily have to expand their scope to move ahead with a two-generation strategy; indeed, this is most effective as a partnership between organizations. At ChildCareGroup, the nonprofit I run, we’re cultivating partnerships with groups that can help the parents of the low-income children we serve.

June 5, 2016

Wyoming Tribune Eagle: We all need to help Wyomingites be self-sufficient

Late last month, the Wyoming Women’s Foundation released two reports that should serve as both a wakeup call and a call to action for all Wyomingites.

[…] First, low-income residents need to expand their skills so they will qualify for higher-wage jobs. There are many ways to do this, from specialty job certificate programs at Laramie County Community College to the CLIMB Wyoming job training program for single moms. We believe much more can be done, though, including partnerships between the state’s community colleges and high schools to provide students not headed to college with training in technical programs that lead to higher-wage jobs right after graduation.

Jun 4, 2016

KSL.com: Rural Utah: ‘We owe it to them’ to break cycles of poverty

In November, the county and the nonprofit San Juan Foundation was one of 10 rural counties nationwide to receive a Rural Integration Models for Parents and Children to Thrive (IMPACT) demonstration grant.

[…] The goal of the San Juan United initiative is to reduce child poverty using a two-generation approach that serves children and parents together, largely focusing on educational opportunities for both. One goal envisions establishing one new quality preschool program within targeted Native American communities and one new licensed child care program by the end of this year. For adults, the initiative seeks to give parents the tools they need to achieve financial stability — financial literacy instruction, high school equivalency and postsecondary education opportunities, as well as job training keyed on workforce needs.

Courier-Post: Program brings education, skills to Camden youth

The 12-month program will offer 113 city residents educational assistance to get their high school diploma or equivalency, mentoring and social services, life skills training and job training — all thanks to a $1.9 million federal Department of Labor grant.

[…] Camden Corps Plus will offer its participants a high school equivalency, industry-recognized credentials in fields including culinary arts, certified nursing assistant, construction, customer service, technology and manufacturing. Work experience will come through paid internships and work sampling, and mentors and case managers will assist with challenges like child care, transportation, coping skills and financial literacy. Upon completion, participants will receive job placement assistance as well.

June 2, 2016

New York Times: Support Women to Support Communities

Last November, the New York Women’s Foundation joined 27 public U.S. women’s foundations and the Women’s Funding Network, in announcing a five-year, $100 million collective funding initiative that will pay for job training programs that are customized to the cultural and educational needs of low-income women and are aimed at securing higher-wage, stable jobs; programs that support women’s entrepreneurship and small business development; access to affordable high-quality child care so women can be successful in the workplace and children can have a strong academic start in life; and national research to inform best practices for increasing ec