FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 7, 2003
CONTACT: John Hammond, San Antonio College Director of Public Relations
210.733.2147

SAC Women's Center Program Is Honored

The Connections Program, administered by the SAC Women's Center & Adult Re-Entry Program coordinated by Dr. Helen Vera, has been selected for the 2003 Alamo Workforce Development Award for Excellence Through Innovation, to be presented at the Westin River Walk Hotel on Oct. 22. Awards will also be given in five other categories.

The Connections Program began in June 2001 with a grant from Texas Workforce Commission to help students move from welfare to work, training students for medical administration assistant positions. Participants must be certified TANF or food stamp recipients with a high school degree or GED and the ability to type 20 words per minute. The Texas Workforce Commission awarded a self-sufficiency grant to fund the program last February, which provided technical training, skills and job readiness to 120 participants in the program.

Job placement and internship opportunities are available for participants who complete training. Connections students are also encouraged to enroll in one of the ACCD colleges to continue their education.

"More than 200 women have completed their training and achieved economic self-sufficiency since the program began, which is the goal of the program," said Vera.

The Alamo Workforce Development Award recognizes an education or training provider that has had a positive impact on the workforce through a unique program or approach. Vera said the program is unique because it is the only campus-based welfare-to-work program in the city, uses mentors in the workplace, uses unique job search techniques, and has positive outcomes: 78 percent job placement, 88 percent job retention, 15 percent college enrollment.

Marizela Acosta, a mother of two, is one of many success stories. "I came to the connections program hoping to get a better job and have a career that I enjoy. I've found that working here," said Acosta. She has been employed as a receptionist at Advanced Eye Care since January 2003 and plans to continue her education to learn about billing, insurance, and eventually nursing.

For more information about the Connections Program, call Dr. Vera at 733-2299.