2021-2022 ANNUAL BOARD UPDATE
ADULT & COMMUNITY PROGRAMS
➊
➌
ADULT & COMMUNITY PROGRAMS
➋ 1. Youth Employment trainees tend the gardens at Lauter Park in Willimantic. 2. English and Spanish GED classes will graduate 38 students in June 2022. 3. Our Youth and Employment Training Program offers employment beyond summer jobs.
includes three divisions: Adult Education; Workplace Education; and Employment and Training. We offer a range of free education classes to residents, ages 17+, from our 21 Adult Education Consortium-member towns. Classes include high school completion, English-LanguageLearners (ELL), American Citizenship, life and basic skills, and college transition support. Workplace Education offers certificate training programs and workplace ELL, High School Education (HSE) and skills training. Employment and Training manages two regional American Job Centers, provides free employment assistance and training for job-seekers, oversees the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and administers job-training programs for the region’s youth (ages 14-22).
eastconn.org/adultprograms
EASTCONN Annual Board Update 2021-2022 | ADULT & COMMUNITY PROGRAMS 1.
2021-2022 ANNUAL BOARD UPDATE
2021-2022 HIGHLIGHTS & ACCOMPLISHMENTS Transportation, we increased
Our programs served 2,327 adults,
Multi-Generational Learning Initiative
free High School Credentialing,
program combines academic
that integrates workforce
positive parenting strategies for
preparation, leadership and
programming for children. This
the two locations, 21 students
Start and QVCC to provide evening
students who are also enrolled
Willimantic.
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
ADULT EDUCATION
including 433 who participated in
ELL, Citizenship and our Program
Enhancement Project (PEP) grants.
High School Credential
We offered three ways to complete
high school: the GED; the Adult High
School Credit Diploma Program (CDP); and the National External Diploma Program (NEDP). •
GED: English and Spanish GED
classes will graduate 38 students in June 2022.
•
NEDP: In this individualized
program, three students are
expected to graduate in June. •
CDP: Virtual course options
continued to be a strong draw for CDP students; 15 students are
expected to graduate. They will be the last cohort to graduate under the 20-credit graduation plan.
English-Language-Learners (ELL) Programs
Online platforms supported by on-site
learning labs, technology learning labs, and distance-learning orientations
supported flexible instruction that resulted in more than 75% of ELL
students demonstrating improved skills. In-person, on-site classes
continued to be the preference for
ELL students; however, our technology loan program supported additional student participation in our online
classes. EASTCONN served 212 ELL students this year.
This regional, multi-generational
students to a rigorous curriculum
instruction, work-readiness, and
readiness skills, citizenship
parents with high-quality educational
college preparation. Between
year, we collaborated with Head
are participating, including 15
programming and dinner in downtown
in certificate programs for either
Citizenship & Immigration
Many of our students are non-U.S.
or Manufacturing Safety. •
Transitions to Post-Secondary:
citizens who benefit from efforts
Through a partnership with
Immigration and Naturalization
can now co-enroll in college-level
language classes. This year’s students
completing their high school
were able to complete the citizenship
EASTCONN Adult Education.
to incorporate preparation for the
QVCC, adult education students
Service exam into their English
courses and earn credits while
persevered through the closures and
diploma or ELL program with
process.
In its pilot year, we anticipate
Program Enhancement Project (PEP) Grants
and earning 18 credits.
students completing six classes
We were awarded seven competitive
EMPLOYMENT & TRAINING
Department of Education (CSDE),
Eastern Connecticut Workforce Investment Board (EWIB) Partnership
PEP grants from the Connecticut State thus receiving the maximum possible award. Through partnerships with
the Eastern Connecticut Workforce
Investment Board (EWIB), Quinebaug Valley Community College (QVCC), school districts, Family Resource
Centers, libraries and other non-profit and social services agencies, these
funds provided specialized services to 106 eligible students. Highlights included: •
EASTCONN continued as the regional leader for workforce development in partnership with EWIB through the
American Job Centers. Through EWIB
funding, EASTCONN provides regional oversight in the delivery of programs and services for economically
disadvantaged, unemployed and
under-employed adults, as well as in-school and out-of-school-youth
Integrated English Language
and Civics Education: Through a collaboration with Norwich
Adult Education and EASTCONN 2.
access for high-level ELL
job-seekers. To extend services
throughout the eastern Connecticut
region, EASTCONN subcontracts with Thames Valley Council for Community
EASTCONN Annual Board Update 2021-2022 | ADULT & COMMUNITY PROGRAMS
2021-2022 ANNUAL BOARD UPDATE
106 ➊
“
I want to thank you for all your help. I never felt I had a fair shot. You showed me the way to adulting and for that I’m forever grateful.” – Shay M., CT Youth Employment Program Participant
Students received specialized
services through CSDE-awarded PEP Grants
➋
56
Students will receive
diplomas in June through EASTCONN GED, CDP & NEDP Programs
➌
342
➎
Received soft-skills instruction in the
Youth Employment
& Training Program
1. Members of Integrated English Language and Civics Manufacturing class arrive from Norwich. 2. Instructor Elizabeth Acosta (center) with members of her ESL class. 3. A GED graduate proudly displays his accomplishment. 4. ESL students have fun while learning grammar. 5. A celebration for a new American citizen!
➍
“
I think it’s awesome to have representation of the community, someone who directly knows how everything goes, knows what can be changed and what needs more attention.” – Vania Galicia, Community Farmer at GROW Windham
SCAN THE QR CODE TO WATCH OUR VIDEO OF THE CT YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROJECT AT GROW WINDHAM
EASTCONN Annual Board Update 2021-2022 | ADULT & COMMUNITY PROGRAMS 3.
“
2021-2022 ANNUAL BOARD UPDATE
I am a single mother; I had to do this to show my son that no matter how old you are you can always achieve goals. I can’t wait to walk across the stage in front of my son and family to receive my diploma.”
Plans & Implications for 2022-2023
– Christine M., EASTCONN NEDP Graduate Action, Norwich Human Services and
our Out-of-School Youth Program;
Youth Affairs and Adult Education.
nationally recognized credentials; and
Adult Education, and New London
six youth received health-related,
The pandemic-initiated suspension of
342 young adults received soft-skills
mandatory job-search requirements
instruction in the Youth Employment
continued into 2022 for the Jobs First
Employment Services (JFES) program;
and Training Program.
298 individuals receiving cash benefits.
CUSTOMIZED WORKPLACE TRAINING
services were provided through hybrid
training, which served 10 individuals,
the Social Security Administration’s
on-site and/or virtual workplace
however, EASTCONN continued serving Job search, training funding and support
In addition to pre-designed virtual
opportunities to 12 job-seekers through
staff developed contracts for customized,
Ticket to Work program; and to
education programs, including:
another 1,013 through the Workforce
Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA),
•
216 of whom found jobs, despite the
correctional residential services. •
In partnership with EWIB through our
•
and job development through the
Aid, applied digital literacy skills,
case management, support services
services. Content included CPR/First
Health Pipeline Initiative (HPI).
career planning and kitchen basics.
EASTCONN provided 35
•
ELL for Supervisors: Completed
Manufacturing Pipeline Initiative
contextualized ELL instruction for
students from across the region and
Warehouse over the summer and ran
(MPI) virtual bootcamps, merging
16 team leaders at Bob’s Furniture
state into a single, virtual classroom,
a second class for 15 this spring.
learning system.
30 students received their National Retail Foundation certificate in
✔ EMPLOYMENT
& TRAINING
We will develop EASTCONN’s Employment and Training Services to incorporate easily accessible, web-based, job-search service opportunities over the long term.
County through a partnership with local youth correctional residential
classes and creating an efficient
4.
term, scaffolded, work-readiness
31 adults received person-centered
expediting students’ access to
•
Work Readiness: Provided long-
We will implement a full rollout of the new PEP grants, strengthen systems to follow up with “exiters” and refine our scheduling to maximize opportunities for both in-person and virtual classroom learning.
training to 30 individuals in Windham
American Job Center locations: •
both Hartford and Fairfield counties through partnerships with youth
pandemic’s impact on the local economy.
In-Demand Services for Job-Seekers
ServSafe: Trained 25 individuals in
✔ PEP GRANTS
•
ELL for Advancement: Provided
✔ WORKPLACE
We will deepen our collaborative relationships with area employers in order to provide contextualized, on-site academic skills enhancement, credentialing and/or training.
contextualized ELL instruction for 21 team members at Colchester-based Incord during the fall semester and 16 for the spring semester.
EASTCONN Annual Board Update 2021-2022 | ADULT & COMMUNITY PROGRAMS