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.
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