Coolidge Center’s Jobs Club helps hundreds train for careers

COOLIDGE – Since the inception of the Jobs Club at Central Arizona College’s Coolidge Training & Assessment Center in 2006, more than 525 residents of Pinal County have been tutored in basic computer skills.

The result has been a group of county residents armed with the ability to better research jobs, be more marketable in the competition for jobs, and open to an arena of education and work possibilities.

Jim Fedenia, the program manager at CTAC, unveiled his research in his mid-January report to the Department of Housing and Urban Development on Central’s Hispanic Serving Institutions Assisting Communities Grant. The semi-annual report covered July 1 through Dec. 31, 2007.

The $600,000 HSIAC Grant was initially awarded to Central Arizona College on October 12, 2004, and was extended for one year at no-cost on June 14, 2007. The grant will end on Oct. 12.

“The Jobs Club was formed in conjunction with the Arizona Department of Economic Security,” Fedenia explained. “These residents were educated to construct and improve individual resumes, update their addresses and personal information, and search for potential employment opportunities within Pinal County.”

During the past six months, 122 unemployed and underemployed residents, Temporary Aid to Needy Families recipients, and low- to-moderate-income citizens residing in Pinal County were computer-certified.

“We encourage our Jobs Club members to return to the CTAC and utilize the computer lab whenever they want to conduct a new job search or fax resumes and job applications to prospective employers,” Fedenia said.

In addition to the Jobs Center, the KeyTrain computer software program has been inserted into the SUCCESS, Students Using Career Coaching Employment Skills, Program.

“This program was started to aid Vocational Rehabilitation students with disabilities,” Fedenia said. “The SUCCESS Career Skills Program is an interactive program designed to help people improve their work habits and employability skills. These skills and qualities have been identified by employers as the most needed by employees to be successful in the workplace.”

The program consists of a 75-contact hour, five-credit course followed by a 16-contact hour, one-credit hour reinforcement session available in a small-group setting.

“Georgia Lappas designed this class in such a way that provides students with an opportunity for individualized attention,” Fedenia said. “Each student will be required to participate in a pretest and post-test assessment. Based upon the immediate student results, clients will be provided an individualized program of instruction, aligned with the gaps in skills and knowledge itemized on the assessment results.”

The competency-based program is aligned with the National Career Development Guideline Competencies and is supported with the following nationally recognized organizations:

· National Occupational Competency Testing Institute

· Education Associates, Inc.

· KeyTrain

During the six months the report covers, the CTAC’s KeyTrain Computer Program was crucial to the success of the 14 new graduates. The total number of SUCCESS graduates stands at 44 since the programs inception.

The WorkKeys Proficiency Certificate for teacher assistants continues to grow at the CTAC with 68 prospective school employees taking the assessments, according to Fedenia.

“This program provides a field-proven way to certify teacher assistants, improving elementary education in Arizona in accordance with the No Child Left Behind Act.”

During the final six months of 2007, 17 new examinees took the assessments for the teacher assistant certificate with 14 passing on their first attempt. All 14 were immediately employed by school districts within Pinal County.

“Those who did not attain the required score are retaking the assessment in those areas in which they were deficient,” Fedenia said.

With the utilization of compressed video, ITV programs are now being implemented that allow both clients and instructors to see, hear and respond to each other via video and audio in real time.

“We have utilized this process to conduct several highly successful International Building Code courses offered to students throughout Pinal County,” Fedenia explained. “Central Arizona College is connected by interactive television to the other college campuses, centers and various high school locations throughout Pinal County.”

This technological upgrade allows clients and residents who do not have adequate transportation take part in county election debates, workshops and training video conferences within the State of Arizona.

“To date, we have accomplished seven of the 10 objectives we outlined at the beginning of the grant,” Fedenia said. “And while we are proud of that accomplishment, it is a really satisfying knowing you are helping the people of Pinal County, especially in Coolidge.”

These programs are supported by funding under the Hispanic Serving Institutions Assisting Communities Grant with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of University Partnerships.

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