Welcome to the Employment Development Department

Promising Practices
California’s Workforce Services Spotlight

Targeted Industries

Chaffey College Construction & Steel Rising/Infrastructure Training Project - Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Successful Practice:
Chaffey College provides short-term vocational training to 200 participants to enter the field of construction and other related industries. This training utilizes a holistic approach to successfully address barriers to gainful employment and wage progression. The target populations being served are individuals receiving CalWORKs assistance, having limited English proficiency, learning disabilities, are unemployed or underemployed, or have other barriers to employment. Targeted occupations are within the following industries: Construction, Carpentry, Painting, Maintenance, Plumbing, Business, Logistics and Manufacturing, Retail, Hospitality and Nursing.

Intensive case management and intervention are key components of this training. The program begins with recruitment, skills/interest assessment, technical skills training, placement in internships/employment and follow-up for one year. Physical conditioning/training and food services are provided to students of the Construction Trades training program prior to each training day. After completing 96 hours of an internship, students will be placed in part-time or full-time employment. Chaffey College also offers specialized training to assist those from a lower socio-economic background in retaining employment.

One of Chaffey College’s successful participants received a minimum of 320 hours (10 weeks) of training in carpentry, drywall, masonry, roofing, basic plumbing/irrigation and fiber optics. The participant received five certificates including a certificate in Network Cabling, Occupational Safety and Health Administration Construction Safety (OSHA) certificate and a CPR & First Aid card. Through training and counseling, this participant was able to demonstrate strong work habits and prove he was reliable and able to obtain and retain stable employment. Despite having a history which included a felony conviction on his record, he is now making almost $28 per hour with a local employer after completing his training through Chaffey College.

Funding: $481,354
Workforce Investment Act-15 Percent Governor’s Discretionary Funds, Department of Public Health Services, Career Institute, San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools, and San Bernardino County Workforce Development Department

Partners:
San Bernardino County Workforce Development Department, San Bernardino Economic Development Department, San Bernardino County Health and Human Services Department, San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools, City of Ontario, Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections, Employment Development Department, Associated General Contractors, Department of Behavioral Health, Goodwill, and Career Institute & Disabled Students Programs and Services

Contact:
Kathy Dutton
Chaffey College
Phone: (909) 941-2730
E-mail: kathy.dutton@chaffey.edu

 

Los Angeles Petrochemical Career Pathway Initiative - El Segundo, CA
Successful Practice:
The Petrochemical Career Pathway Initiative was targeted to address the need of the energy industry in the Los Angeles area to replace an aging workforce, as well as to develop a younger and more diverse pool of workers. Sponsored by Conoco-Phillips, ExxonMobil, BP, Valero and Tesoro, the South Bay Center for Counseling, local community colleges and area One-Stops, the Initiative targeted residents of communities near the refineries. By providing a diverse group of older youth, disadvantaged adults and dislocated workers with industry-standard customized training, the Initiative addressed the challenge of the Petroleum Industry to recruit skilled workers and attract a diverse workforce. Entry-level wages for jobs targeted by the Initiative are among the highest in the region for manufacturing jobs. The average salary increased from $20,000 to $70,000, reflecting a 350% salary increase.

One example of the success of this program is a young college graduate, who lived near the refineries and was employed as an airport baggage screener. After being accepted into the program, he went through 6 months of intensive training at Los Angeles Harbor Community College, and along with job counseling and assistance from the One-Stop and the South Bay Center for Counseling, he was able to secure employment as an operator at ExxonMobil. He is pleased that his new position has better pay, better benefits and a chance for advancement.

Funding: $500,000
Workforce Investment Act- Governor’s 15 Percent Discretionary Funds

Partners:
South Bay Center for Counseling, Conoco-Phillips, ExxonMobil, BP, Valero and Tesoro, United Steelworkers Union, Los Angeles Harbor College and local area One-Stops

Contact:
Colleen Mooney
Executive Director
South Bay Center for Counseling
Phone: (310) 414-2090
E-mail: comooney@sbcglobal.net
Web Site: www.sbaycenter.com

 

Regional Nurse Support-II (RNs-II) - Sacramento, CA
Successful Practice:
The Sacramento Employment & Training Agency (SETA) was awarded an $800,000 grant to develop a project that would assist job seekers and incumbent workers to become Registered Nurses. Building on the successes of the previous healthcare industry projects, RNs II created growth in regional nurse training capacity and increased the ability of local hospitals to provide healthcare to under-represented populations. This was accomplished by training 60 new Registered Nurses at the associate and bachelor degree level during the 24 month project period through expanded nurse education programs. In addition, 25 immigrants who had prior patient care experience in their countries of origin were assisted in re-entering the healthcare workforce in occupations that are in great demand, such as Certified Nurse Assistant, Registered Nurse, Radiology Technician and Respiratory Technician. The nursing candidates were recruited from the four partner healthcare organizations and were provided career paths for advancement to higher paying nursing positions.

SETA not only reduced the shortage of nurses in the region, but achieved an remarkably low attrition rate among the WIA-enrolled students of 4% compared to the typical 30% at local community colleges. The graduates were immediately employed, with wages that ranged from $30 to $63 per hour.

One of the recent graduates was a single mother of 3 children working as a medical assistant before being accepted into the nursing program. When she was considering dropping out of the program due to financial difficulties, SETA helped her find low-income housing and financial assistance. She has successfully passed the state nursing license exam and is now working as an Emergency Room nurse.

Funding: $720,000 WIA 15%, $80,000 W/P 10%
Workforce Investment Act-Governor’s 15 Percent Discretionary Funds, Wagner-Peyser 10 Percent funds

Partners:
SETA, Los Rios Community College District and CSU, Sacramento, and Sutter Health Sacramento Sierra Region, Kaiser Permanente, Catholic Healthcare West, and UC Davis Medical Center

Contact:
Cindy Sherwood-Green
Sacramento Employment & Training Agency
Phone: (916) 263-3857
E-mail: cindysg@delpaso.seta.net
Web Site: www.seta.net