Linda Collins California Workforce Association Sector Strategies and Career Ladders April 11, 2007

Career Ladders are... Long-term, comprehensive educational and training strategies designed to enable individuals to combine school and work in order to advance over time to better jobs and to higher levels of education. Series of connected education/training programs— and related supportive services—that connect to employment within specific industry or occupational sector. Each step is designed to prepare for next level of employment and education.

Career Ladders... Target jobs in industries of importance to the regional labor market; Provide the basic skills, entry-level training, continuing skills advancement and ongoing education necessary to serve both workers and employers; Create avenues of advancement for incumbent workers, jobseekers, and future entrants; Build on partnerships, linking resources of colleges, workforce agencies, employers, labor and community- based organizations on a regional basis.

Community colleges working on.. “ Bridge” programs Contextualized curriculum and teaching Alignment, sequencing and modularization Mapping occupational programs to industry need, wage progression and advancement Wrap around services Integration of services and instruction Increasing access for disconnected youth and working people

OUTREACH, RECRUITMENT AND ASSESSMENT TARGET GROUP: Disadvantaged Youth/Transitioning Foster Care Youth/Disadvantaged Adults TARGET AREAS: Selected Cities/Counties and Service Areas SERVICES: Career Orientation/Test of Adult Basic Education (TABE)/Career Counseling/Referrals/Job Development BIOTECHNOLOGY Manufacturing Technician: 35K 14 week training plus 3 month paid tryout employment STAGE 2 STAGE 1 THE COLLEGE AND CAREER PATHWAY PROGRAM Part-time Jobs: after-school workers, IT or retail staff ($7.50 to $9.50 per hour) + Full financial aid package HEALTH Technician: 30-40K Medical Assistant: $30-40K Short to mid term training BRIDGE TO COLLEGE AND CAREER 14 to 18 Week Program: Learning Community Cohort Model Delivered for college credit at College or outlying site (CBO; other) Introduction to Post Secondary Education and Career Opportunities Contextualized Literacy and Math Skills Work Readiness Social Support VESL (as needed) Individualized Education and Career Plan Achievement of 10 th Grade Reading Level Transition to Customized Career Training/College Financial Planning Corporate Culture Intensive Counseling COLLEGE AND CAREER PROGRAMS Degree and Certificate Programs leading to careers in health care, social services, IT … STAGE 3 TABE Under 6/7 th Grade TABE 7/8 th – 10 th Grade TABE 10 + Grade Additional Remediation CONSTRUCTION $30 - $40K Incl. Apprenticeship Opportunities 16 week training SHORTERM WORK READINESS THE WALTER S. JOHNSON FOUNDATION AND THE CAREER LADDERS PROJECT

CCC System Strategic Plan: Partnerships for Economic and Workforce Development Strengthen the colleges’ capacity to respond to current and emergent labor market needs and to prepare students to compete in a global economy. C1. Coordination of Statewide Workforce Programs and Policies C2. Career Pathways (Bridge programs, partnerships, and comprehensive, industry-driven career pathways) C3. Curriculum & Program Development & Approval Process Improvements C4. Regional Collaboration through Multi-Agency Networks C5. Defining and Addressing Long-Range Economic and Workforce Trends

Funding opportunities... Check out our jargon: IDRC, JDIF SB70/CTE VTEA CAA More flexible, more of them, require partners Seed funds for regional and sectoral initiatives

Career Advancement Academies:  Large scale regional demonstration projects;  3 regions (500-1,000 students/year each);  Connect underprepared young adults (18-30) to college and career pathways;  Partnerships: Community Colleges, Adult Ed/ROCP, workforce and social service agencies, labor, community based orgs, and employers  If successful, expand

The philanthropic community..  Regional and pooled grantmaking  Development of public/private partnerships  Linking place based strategies to economic and workforce development  Increased interest in community colleges  Investment in foundational basic skills as well as sector and career ladder initiatives  Focus on particular populations  Policy work

Contact information: Linda Collins 1203 Preservation Park Way, Suite 201 Oakland, CA (510) Thank you