DMACC has received a $1,171,420 grant from the
U.S. Department of Labor to provide career and technical training to as many as 80 low-income 18- to 24-year-olds.
The
awarding of the grant is part of the Job Corps Scholars Program, a new
national demonstration project aimed at providing at-risk youth with job
skills instruction, educational opportunities and individualized
employment counseling.
The three-year grant will pay for all
tuition and fees for the 80 qualified students participating in the
program, and also provide career technical training, and intensive
personal and career counseling services to support and facilitate
completion of the program. In addition, employment counseling services
will be provided, including follow-up employment services.
At DMACC, this program will be known as the Workforce Training Academy – Young Adult Program (YAP) and will be overseen by
DMACC Continuing Education Department Executive Director Michael Hoffman.
“There
are many young people in low-income households across Central Iowa who
are underemployed or unemployed," Hoffman said. “This federal grant will
be another important step in helping DMACC prepare these youth for
employment in high demand, good wage jobs. We're eager to get started."
Hoffman
said the Workforce Training Academy – Young Adult Program will
enroll 80 individuals over two years into targeted Career and Technical
Education (CTE) programs that lead to careers in high demand and
well-paying fields.
The following DMACC Career and Technical
Education programs, all of which can be completed in 12 months or less,
are offered under the grant:
Administrative Support Professional
Certified Nursing Assistant and Advanced Certified Nursing Assistant
Patient Intake & Billing
Phlebotomy
Sterile Processing Supply Technician
Computer Numerical-Controlled (CNC) Operator
MIG Production Welding
Core Construction Basic Equipment Operator
Network Cable Installer
Commercial Vehicle Operator Training (Class A or B CDL)
“We will recruit two YAP cohorts, each consisting of 40
participants for a total of 80 over the grant period," Hoffman said.
“Our targeted audience will be individuals ages 18-24 who hold a high
school credential."
According to Hoffman, DMACC will utilize
community and neighborhood organizations for referrals to the YAP. He
said all eligible applicants will complete a qualification process to
identify education and employment goals.
Hoffman said that's why
it's important to communicate clearly the expectations of participating
and building trust between the program staff and the YAP participants.
"For the YAP, we will focus on recruiting participants to enroll in programs offered through our
Workforce Training Academy (WTA). These programs consist of both credit and non-credit options," Hoffman said.
Two
current DMACC employees, Kay Maher and Pam Gaddy, who have worked with
the WTA, will serve as YAP supervisors. They will supervise two
full-time Personal and Career Counselors and two full-time Employment
Counselors.
The Personal and Career Counselors will recruit,
screen, enroll and monitor participants as well as assess students for
individual needs and coordinate the delivery of services to meet those
needs.
The Employment Counselors will build new business partnerships and assist students in all phases of a job search.
The
YAP supervisors and the counselors will be located at the Evelyn K.
Davis Center for Working Families, and also have satellite offices at
other DMACC locations, including the DMACC Ankeny and Urban Campuses and
the Southridge Learning Center, where training will be held.