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October 2009 issue
page 2 of 3 |
WorkSource and colleges co-locate staff to better serve unemployed
Clark College and Lower Columbia College are hosting two new staff each—a Career Specialist and a Financial Aid Advisor. The new positions are actually WorkSource staff located onsite at the colleges and are funded through American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds which are administered by the SWWDC.
The idea to co-locate staff came out of the lean process that SW WorkSource centers recently underwent. The rationale behind the arrangement is to streamline financial and employment services for students and to strengthen the partnership between the colleges and their respective WorkSource center.
Jordana Barclay, SWWDC program manager, says the intent is not to create new WorkSource sites but rather to better package resources to clients. “The integration of our staff at the colleges is meant to improve customer service and increase knowledge transfer between WorkSource staff and the college staff. With cross training, WorkSource staff will get to know college resources better and the college staff will get to know more about resources at WorkSource,” she said.
The full-time positions are funded through the end of June 2010 and will first focus on assisting students receiving training that is funded through ARRA programs.
Clark College and ESD 112's Youth Workforce Program collaborate to offer Welding Boot Camp
 Ten students in ESD 112's Youth Workforce program, ages 18-21 years old, had an opportunity to try their hand at welding, a high demand skill in our region, during a two week concentrated “boot camp”.
The boot camp was designed to help youth decide whether or not they have the aptitude and interest in welding without enrolling in a 10 to 12 week welding class. Classes at local community colleges and training schools are difficult for inexperienced youth to get into and are often full with adults looking for a career change or to brush up on their own welding skills.
That's why Clark College and ESD 112 teamed up to pilot the welding boot camp. With funding from SWWDC, nine young men and one young woman got to see if they have what it takes to weld—in a manner that mirrors a full–time welding job.
Under the tutelage of Clark College welding instructor John Kuhn, the youth worked six and a half hours a day for two weeks and earned four college credits. “They got a chance to try stick, wire feed, MIG, TIG and oxy-fueled welding techniques. By the end of the two weeks, they learned what it takes to weld and knew if they would enjoy it in a day-long environment,” says Kuhn.
Seven of the youth decided to continue on in the welding sequence and work toward national certification. They are currently working to get into winter quarter welding classes at Clark.
Clark College and ESD 112 are discussing a second welding boot camp, and also are looking into similar programs in different occupational areas.
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