Weekly Roundup of the news on women and supportive services in job training programs.
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.
September 14, 2016
PR Newswire: WTIA Workforce Institute Officially Opens Registered Tech Apprenticeship Program, Apprenti, with First Participants in Initial Training Round
The WTIA Workforce Institute today announced the opening of its registered apprenticeship program, Apprenti, the only tech apprenticeship accredited by the State of Washington and a first for the industry. Apprenti will recruit, train, and place at least 600 new tech workers during the pilot. The program focuses on under represented groups including women, minorities and veterans, helping bridge the skills and diversity gap and providing trained talent to the state’s high-wage tech sector. Apprenti officially kicks off today and is currently accepting applications for its first round of participants this fall. The WTIA Workforce Institute also announced that Apprenti will receive an additional $200K in funding from JP Morgan Chase to cover the costs of training its first participants.
September 9, 2016
The Circle News: Measure twice, cut once: carpenters and Summit Academy students
Summit Academy (SAIOC) offers 20-week job training programs that ready students for apprenticeships and internships in the construction trades or in healthcare and medical-related career positions.
The program offerings vary during the year, Shedivy said.
[…] OICs (Opportunities Industrialization Centers) were started in 1964 by theologians serving primarily Black Americans in depressed and under-served areas. The OIC of America network organization, based in Philadelphia, says there are currently 38 affiliate organizations in 22 states “fighting for economic and racial justice through workforce development of underserved and underrepresented communities.”
[…] The national organization said 24 responding affiliate programs reported nearly 12,000 men and women have trained in their programs, and 10,000 of them completed technical education requirements – an 87 percent completion rate despite personal and economic hardships.
September 1, 2016
Carmichael Times: Women’s Empowerment Gains Grant from US Bank Foundation
Women’s Empowerment’s initial eight-week program for women who are homeless in Sacramento provides women with free onsite child care in the group’s child development center and transportation assistance. Each woman works with a master’s level social worker to address her root causes of homelessness, attending classes on job-readiness, confidence and empowerment. She receives health services, focuses on job readiness with her employment specialist and volunteer career mentor, and learns financial literacy. When she graduates after eight weeks, she can access Women’s Empowerment’s graduate services at any point in her life, which include certifications, counseling, GED preparation, access to a professional clothing closet, financial literacy, and paid job training through the group’s Get A Job Kit Training and small business.
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