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ALSO
IN THIS ISSUE A Body of Knowledge Investing in the Future Math, Science Students Find Special Help Toward Gainful Employment Chancellor's Column Development News Factoids Newsmakers Accomplishments by faculty and staff… |
Toward Gainful Employment Changing
lives for the better isn’t simply a lofty ideal for the I CAN program,
it is a goal the program is already achieving. “We
had a client come in last year who was homeless,” said Annette Jones,
an integral member of the I CAN leadership in San Diego. “We helped
her find housing and a full-time job. She’s now happily employed,
without any subsidization money from the program, and plans to buy her
own car by the end of the year. Her life has changed drastically, and
it’s all because she simply came in and talked to us about her situation.” The
I CAN program is filled with such success stories, and there is room for
more. The
program began in September 1998, a collaboration of the San Diego Community
College District, the SDCCD Auxiliary and the San Diego Housing Commission
and its partners — the Neighborhood House Association, Occupational
Training Services, Comprehensive Training Systems, STRIVE San Diego and
Impact Urban America. I
CAN, an acronym for Individual Career Advancement Network, was conceived
to help economically disadvantaged and low-income individuals overcome
multiple barriers to employment, and set a course toward economic self-sufficiency. Through
district resources, those seeking to raise their quality of life through
gainful employment are provided an individual assessment, in-depth career
explorations, career planning and employment readiness training, all in
a casual classroom environment designed to make the client feel comfortable. The
second level of I CAN involvement has clients meeting with potential employers,
who advise them on specific training and refer them to part-time employment. “Our
goal is to enroll 128 clients concurrently, and we’re at about 78
percent right now, so things are going pretty good,” said Jones,
an advocate who works for Occupational Training Services. I
CAN is funded through private and public sources, serving both welfare
recipients and a segment of the population referred to as the working
poor. Its offices are housed in two converted apartments on a public housing
site, a non-intimidating location designed to further place clients at
ease. “We
have a mentor who comes in three days a week and walks clients through
different situations,” Jones said. “The college district has
been very supportive. They have adjusted the curriculum to accommodate
some of our clients’ lower skill levels in reading, math and other
subjects. What is important is that we make the client comfortable with
the classroom setting while providing necessary knowledge and skills.” Agencies
dealing with alcohol and drug rehabilitation, child care and transportation
also make resources available. Shera,
an I CAN graduate, now has a clerical job with Delaney Educational, a
supplier of textbooks to schools. She is also enrolled in the office systems
program at the Educational Cultural Complex, where she practices the computer
skills she uses in the office and improves her typing and data entry speed. “
Shera is an excellent employee,” said her boss, “very conscientious
and hard working. She has become a real asset to our team. We are lucky
to have her.” |