School to Apprenticeship Programs

Contact:
Trudy Johnson
253.404.3988
Willie Elliott
253.404.3931

The construction industry expects to lose significant talent over the next five to ten years due to retirement of its workforce.  In anticipation of this, the industry has focused its efforts on attracting and growing a younger workforce.  In 2003 the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) and the SW WA Electrical Joint Apprenticeship Committee (J.A.T.C.) initiated a school to electrical apprenticeship program in partnership with the Pierce County Workforce Development Council to identify and develop young talent from Pierce County high schools.

Selected high school students are hired by NECA businesses as electrician’s helpers during the summer and senior year, earning $8.25 and $8.50 respectively.  During their participation, these electrician helpers receive occupation specific training as well as employability skills training both on the job and in a classroom setting.  After successful graduation from high school, these helpers are offered full-time employment at $9.00 per hour.  At this time, they apply to the electrical apprenticeship program and are given special consideration for entry.  Once accepted, they follow the electrical apprenticeship training tracks, earning $10.00 to $15.00 per hour.

To date, the first five students selected to participate in the program have entered the electrical apprenticeship training program with the SW WA Electrical J.A.T.C., and a second group of students began their on-the-job and classroom training in June 2004.  Based on the success and high demand, replication of the program in the carpentry trade is underway.  Partners include the Western WA Carpenters J.A.T.C., the Pierce County WDC, and more than five local contractors.  Recruitment for both the School to Carpentry and Electrical Apprenticeship programs began earlier this month.

Community Gateway

Contact:
Diane Galloway
509.444.4383
dianeg@giin.org

Community Gateway provides vocational services to recently released criminal offenders.  Services include assessment, job placement and job retention.  The program also provides pre-release activities to help inmates prepare for job search, assists them in accessing housing and treatment to enhance their employability, and, when appropriate, supplies work-related clothing and other items.  Program staff facilitate free bonding and tax credits for employers. Goodwill Industries of the Inland Northwest, headquartered in Spokane, administers Community Gateway, which partners with the Washington Department of Corrections, community corrections officers in Spokane and surrounding counties, housing projects, halfway houses, Spokane Neighborhood Action Programs, businesses,  public and private agencies, and Goodwill’s WIA-funded youth program, Planning Action for Youth Success (PAYS). The program was established in 2002.  During its last program year, program staff achieved a 90 percent job placement rate and an 80 percent job retention rate.  Participants are tracked for one year following placement.

Based on program outcomes, Community Gateway was awarded the 2005 Workplace Skills Award by Goodwill Industries International (GII), a network of 207 independent, community-based member agencies thoughout the U.S., Canada, and 22 other countries.  GII’s criteria for the best practices award are that the winning program provide “exemplary services to people with disabilities and others with barriers to employment.  The winning program will demonstrate proven positive outcomes and be replicable in other settings throughout the Goodwill movement.”