Job placement services and supports

Combining career and technical education (CTE) programming and developmental education courses: Accelerating Opportunity (AO) responded to the need for improved pathways from adult basic education to valuable credentials in the labor market. The initiative served adults without high school diplomas or the equivalent. AO encouraged states to allow community and technical colleges to enroll these students in either for-credit CTE courses or developmental courses leading to CTE pathways while they simultaneously earned high school credentials, improved basic skills, or built their English language capabilities (referred to collectively as “adult education”).

Engaging states with adult education in their postsecondary system: Participating states identified at least eight colleges to pilot and scale up Accelerating Opportunity pathways in high-demand industries. The colleges assembled pathway planning and implementation teams (with representatives from adult education, credit-bearing CTE programs, support services, and administration) to participate in regular meetings in a statewide network, sharing best practices and informing state policy development. Colleges were expected to establish at least two Accelerating Opportunity pathways. Other key aspects of the pathways in addition to the dual enrollment included that colleges connected students with dedicated navigators and that they arranged for adult education and CTE instructors to team teach at least 25 percent of pathway content.

Linking educational pathways to viable career pathways: To be eligible for the program, students had to fall within National Reporting System levels 4-6 (6th to 12th grade) on math, reading, or writing, or National Reporting System levels 5-6 in English-language skills. Eligible students began with adult education courses, then continued on to college-level certificates that are at least 12 credit hours long. These certificates are offered in industries with substantial labor demand and high wages, ensuring students may reliably gain sustainable employment following graduation.

Increase access and success in postsecondary education and the workforce: The AO model addressed both policy and practice in each participating state. AO established a policy team for each state, which then worked to identify policies that would support dual enrollment pathways for adults. The policy teams focused on five policy priorities: data and analysis, innovation/redesign, aligned expectations, assessment and placement, and finance. On the practice side, AO aimed to improve students’ overall education experience. To do this, the program offered professional development for faculty and staff at participating institutions to ensure a high-quality learning experience.

Career-building program for domestic violence survivors: The Career Readiness Training Program (CRTP), offered by Sanctuary for Families (SFF), is a workforce training program for survivors of domestic violence. The program aims to increase participants' career readiness, improve their job skills, and ensure they are financially stable over the long-run. In addition to the program, clients may receive clinical, legal, and financial support from SFF.

Offering services embedded in the broader support services ecosystem: As implemented by SFF, CRTP frequently get referrals from the Family Justice Center, a “one-stop” location for survivors of domestic and gender-based violence to access services. The CRTP is open to all domestic violence survivors regardless of race, gender identity, age, and educational attainment.

Instruction on fundamentals of career development: The CRTP consists of two primary components: a Career Readiness Workshop and an Office Operations Workshop. The Career Readiness Workshop spans over three weeks and teaches participants how to establish and advance their careers. This workshop helps participants prepare for the job search, with lessons on writing a resume, navigating the job market, and other practical skills.

Job specific training for the office: The Office Operations Workshop is a more intensive curriculum, spanning 13 weeks. This workshop provides 200 hours of advanced office technology training, business communication instruction, literacy and math skills, and training for the job search.

Access to holistic supports during and after participation: Clients gain access to clinical, legal, and financial support through SFF. Common support services accessed by participants include legal consultations, mental health evaluations and assistance, cash assistance, and other types of tangible supports (e.g., public transit passes). Following the completion of the CRTP, participants maintained access to these services. Continued support ensures participants may progress in their career development journey long after the program concludes, improving overall outcomes.

Optional internships and other development opportunities: Participants may also access occupational training and internship opportunities, but they are not mandatory.

Supporting foster care youth through job training and employer connections: iFoster Jobs is a workforce readiness program for young people with histories of foster care, connecting them to employers and preparing them for success in the workplace. The program centers around skills and job search training, interview support, readiness assessments, and employment matching, during which iFoster staff identify an ideal employer and connect the participant to the opportunity. iFoster Jobs aims to set foster care youth up for career success as they transition out of the system, helping them secure and maintain long-term employment.

Recruitment through case managers and other support services for foster care youth: iFoster Jobs serves those with histories of foster care between the ages of 16 and 24. Participants are typically referred to the program through their case managers, independent living placement staff, or county social workers, but they may also self-refer. The referral source typically serves as the client’s “supportive adult,” who agrees to support the participant in the program and in their employment search.

Extensive career readiness training and support: The iFoster Jobs program typically begins with four full days of training, in which participants learn customer service and communication skills, write resumes, review workers’ rights, and practice interviewing. These daylong sessions can either be administered as once-a-week sessions or a four-day bootcamp, according to the needs of the particular cohort. On top of helping clients practice their interview skills, iFoster Jobs staff host an event called “Boutique Day” for every cohort, in which clients may find interview clothes and receive haircuts to prepare for their interviews.

Assessing participants’ job readiness to accurately place them in an opportunity: During Assessment Day, iFoster Jobs staff administer basic math and language skills assessments and an assessment interview, to determine whether each participant is prepared to enter the workforce. They also meet individually with each participant to provide information about employer partners and the matching process, as well as learn more about participants’ interests in order to develop an employment plan and place them in their best fit.

Individualized employment matching: After Assessment Day, iFoster Jobs work with participants who are deemed “ready for competitive work” to identify potential employers, help fill out applications, and prepare for interviews. Those who are deemed “not ready for competitive work” are placed in paid internships with iFoster Jobs’ partners, to further build job skills and boost their resumes. Once the internship has concluded, participants are encouraged to complete Assessment Day again and work with iFoster Jobs to try to gain long-term employment.

Supporting employment for public housing residents: Jobs-Plus is a place-based workforce development program for public housing communities. Jobs-Plus members are more likely to be employed and see their incomes increase than before Jobs-Plus enrollment.

Supporting the job search: Jobs-Plus coaches provide on-site, one-on-one application and job search assistance. Coaches support members in job search assistance, job placement support, workshops, and life skills classes. Jobs-Plus also offers flexible assistance with transportation, clothing, and child care.

Subsidizing rent increases: Jobs-Plus recognizes that for many public housing residents, their rent would increase if their income were to increase. To remove this disincentive to pursuing higher-paying employment, Jobs-Plus provides subsidies that effectively freeze participants’ rent for the first year after securing a new job.

Recruiting public housing residents: To recruit participants, Jobs-Plus programs use word of mouth recruitment via their community coaches. When possible, programs hire coaches with strong connections to the community they are operating in. Program staff may also knock doors, post flyers, use social media, and host community events like raffles or fairs. Jobs-Plus is typically funded by local government agencies.

Providing employment opportunities for older Americans: The Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) is a federal workforce program that places seniors in community service assignments with subsidized employment, in order to prepare them to transition to unsubsidized employment. Program participants are more likely to be employed full-time after participation than peers who did not participate in the program.

Targeting at-risk seniors: To be eligible for participation in SCSEP, individuals must be at least 55 years old, unemployed, interested in unsubsidized employment, and have a household income below 125% of the federal poverty line. Priority is given to veterans and their spouses, racial minorities, and the most economically disadvantaged applicants.

Supporting skill development: Community service assignments take place at non-profit and public facilities, including schools, hospitals, daycare centers, and senior centers. Beyond community service assignments, staff support SCSEP participants in developing additional skills, such as financial management or computer and life skills. Staff also support seniors in applying for jobs related to the skills they have developed, so they can transition into unsubsidized employment.

Funded federally, administered locally: SCSEP is funded by the U.S. Department of Labor, but administered by local nonprofits and public agencies. Host agencies are responsible for training job seekers and for connecting seniors to community service opportunities. States are accountable for meeting core performance goals: placing eligible participants in community service roles and paying them the local minimum wage, then supporting participant transition into unsubsidized jobs and tracking their job retention and earnings.