Courses to Employment Demonstration Project: Sectoral Approaches to Community College and Nonprofit Partnerships

Funder: The Aspen Institute
Amount: $76,000
Funding Period: 2/2008 – 1/2011

The “Courses to Employment” Project is a three-year partnership between Mott Community College and the Greater Flint Health Coalition, who serves as the fiduciary of the grant. The Courses to Employment Demonstration Project seeks to improve post-secondary education and employment outcomes for low-income adults and is designed to support, strengthen and evaluate the roles the partners play in assisting adult learners. The “Courses to Employment” Project builds upon existing efforts of a healthcare sector-workforce development program, the Flint Healthcare Employment Opportunities (FHEO) Project. The FHEO Project provides sustainable entry-level employment opportunities and career tracks in the healthcare industry through a comprehensive program that encompasses attitudinal and life skills training, job-skills development, training in healthcare occupations, job placement, and case management services. Through the “Courses to Employment” initiative, the partnership will test new strategies for improving and expanding the FHEO Project and, identify best practices for moving low-income residents further up the ladder within mid/high-skill, high-demand healthcare occupations within our region such as Pharmacy Technician, Health Unit Coordinator, Billing & Transcription, Respiratory Therapist, LPN, Physical Therapy Assistant, and Occupational Therapy Assistant.