Two new fact sheets on immigrant integration

Two new fact sheets from the Networks for Integrating New Americans initiative are now available. They highlight what the project learned about collaborating to help immigrants and refugees advance in the workforce and in the community.

The Workforce Collaborations fact sheet describes the services offered by employment-focused networks in Lancaster (PA), Boise (ID), and Rhode Island. With adult education programs playing a key role, each network addressed gaps in the career pathways available to English language learners in their communities. Noted here are their most effective strategies and the ways that collaboration improved their access to funding.

The Library Collaborations fact sheet describes the ways adult education providers and libraries collaborated in White Center (WA), Fresno (CA), and Rhode Island to create innovative and accelerated learning opportunities for English language learners. We highlight the distinct approach taken in each context and how these collaborations benefitted their communities as well as the partner organizations.

The Networks for Integrating New Americans initiative was funded by the Office of Career, Technical and Adult Education (OCTAE) as a technical assistance contract led by World Education, Inc., in partnership with IMPRINT, Welcoming America, and the National Partnership for New Americans.  

Andy Nash, World Education

Comments

Thanks for sharing these, Andy.  Looking at the Workforce Collaborations fact sheet, under key lessons learned, I was impressed by Idaho's practice of "engaging employers ... that build long-term relationships as they address employers’ immediate goals".  Global Talent Idaho provided three months of full-time, paid internships at no cost to the employer, giving immigrants work experience and a potential job placement. It notes that these internships were funded by an Idaho Department of Labor grant, and resulted in 11 of 19 interns being permanently hired by the host business.   This is an impressive track record for job placements!  I wonder if anyone knows what Department of Labor grant this program was developed under, and what other braided funding programs are using to operate internship programs for their adult learners?   Mike Cruse Career Pathways Moderator michaelcruse74@gmail.com

Mike,

The grant that funded Global Talent Idaho's initial work was a U.S. Department of Labor Job-Driven National Emergency Grant (NEG) that names foreign-trained workers who are also dislocated as one of three priority job seeker groups. You can read more about Boise's workforce collaboration (and funding) in the final Lessons Learned report for this initiative. 

Andy

 

In Collaborations with Libraries, you can read evidence of Rhode Island libraries collaborating with workforce development partners to expand adult education services by locating two of its Learning Lounges in One Stop Career Centers.  Here, counselors guide job-seekers who needed remedial academics, in order to qualify for job training programs. Providence Public Library and several adult education programs have also hosted an adult education-funded Jobs Club for low-income English learners.    These are both ideas that support collaboration between adult education and workforce development.  What are some other ways that library-based programs are able to help bridge the divide between adult education and workforce development?   Mike Cruse Career Pathways Moderator michaelcruse74@gmail.com