The Connections Program, administered by the San Antonio College Women's Center & Adult Re-Entry Program, is now accepting applications for Administrative Office Assistant training, free to qualified applicants. The next classes will be offered Feb. 28-April 15, May 9-June 17, and June 27-Aug. 5.
The six-week Administrative Office Assistant training offers six hours of college credit and includes studies in Keyboarding, Microsoft Word, Windows, Outlook, Administrative Procedures, Customer Service, and more. Each class includes Life and Employability Skills training such as resume building, interviewing skills, and job search.
Training is free to those who qualify and includes books and supplies, transportation assistance, community resources and referrals, personal counseling, and referrals for professional job search attire.
To qualify, students must meet these City of San Antonio requirements: 1) Be a resident of San Antonio, 2) Have a high school diploma or GED, 3) Meet low income eligibility, 4) Type 20 words per minute, and 5) Apply for financial aid.
Nationally, there are 13.6 million single mother families and 7.3 million displaced homemakers under the age of 65, said Dr. Helen Vera, Women's Center Coordinator. She added that nearly two-thirds of these women have not completed education beyond a high school diploma or GED, and those who do find employment have incomes below the poverty level.
"We want to address these statistics head on and know that education is the key," said Vera. "We want to help women and men get a jump start on their education and provide them with marketable skills to find employment and eventually provide a better future for their families."
The San Antonio College Women's Center has partnered with the City of San Antonio, which has provided funding with a $217,000 grant, to help the women in this community through the Connections Program training.
The Connections Program was selected for the 2003 Alamo Workforce Development Award for Excellence Through Innovation. More than 200 women have completed the program, since it was founded in 2001, and have achieved the goal of attaining economic self-sufficiency.
For more information, call 733-2580.
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