15 Community Colleges Awarded Grants to Prepare Boomers for Jobs in Health, Education and Social Services

In Tough Economic Times, Civic Ventures/Deerbrook Encore Career Grants Benefit Colleges, Job Seekers Over 50 and Communities

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – July 27, 2010 – Fifteen colleges in nine states received Encore Career Grants today to support programs aimed at retraining experienced adults for health care, education and social service jobs that will make a difference in their community.  The grants are provided by The Deerbrook Charitable Trust and Civic Ventures, a think tank on boomers, work and social purpose.

The Community College Encore Career grants help colleges that are adapting existing programs or creating new ones targeted to experienced adults over age 50 who want to become adjunct faculty, community health workers, pharmacist technicians, and more. 

Program innovations include marketing strategies for recruiting and educating students 50 and older, compressed course work and peer mentor programs, and job search and placement support to help students land encore careers in their community.
 
“Older, experienced adults are working longer and are looking to do work that is meaningful to them and their community,” said Dr. Arthur Sundstrom, executive director of The Deerbrook Charitable Trust.  “These grants are designed to help more adults make the transition and to provide model encore career programs for other colleges to follow.”

The 15 community colleges that received Encore Career Grants are:

Anne Arundel Community College, Arnold, Md., which will create the “Allied Health Pathway for Encore Careers,” a course consisting of two free online classes to educate older students about health care careers. The college will provide transition services to help students who want to move into noncredit health programs. 

Atlantic Cape Community Colleges, Mays Landing, N.J., which will recruit professionals with prior experience in health and management to teach adult basic education, health, and English as a second language (ESL).  Hybrid (classroom and online) courses will focus on instructional technology, adult learning theory, course development and classroom management. 

Cape Cod Community College, West Barnstable, Mass., which will build on existing programs providing academic advising and support services to help boomers earn certificates or degrees in early childhood education, health care and human services.  The college will provide a plus-50 career adviser, peer mentors and noncredit workshops to ensure student success.

Community College of Denver, Denver, Colo., which will enhance existing services to meet the needs of older students moving into health care and social services, including providing targeted web and print marketing to older students; peer and staff mentors; and training

GreenvilleTechnical College, Greenville, S.C., which will adapt its nurse re-entry program to help prepare experienced nurses for careers in alternative health care settings. Three new learning modules will help nurses over 50 improve computer skills, adopt effective strategies for online learning, develop work-force skills and master new medical technologies.

Harold Washington College, Chicago, Ill., which will recruit adults over 50 with master’s degrees to become college adjunct instructors. Existing faculty will teach prospective adjuncts how to manage classrooms, assess student learning, use educational technology, and encourage active learning.

Houston Community College, Houston, Texas, which will adapt its existing Community Health Worker program to help encore students complete an associate degree and identify career options in the health field.  A part-time coordinator will help students enroll, navigate college systems, and identify internships and job leads.

John A. Logan College, Carterville, Ill., which will work with local public and private partners to recruit, train and place 15 adults over 50 in health care, transit, social services and education jobs.  The pilot program will inform the development of an online component for future groups.

Joliet Junior College, Joliet, Ill., which will prepare encore students to become certified pharmacy technicians in four months. To ensure job placement for certified students, the college will build strong partnerships with practicing pharmacists and local and national employers.

Macomb Community College, Warren, Mich., which will add an online learning component to its elder care specialist training program and create an online mentoring program using alumni as the mentors.  In partnership with AARP, the college will also provide a free information forum and webinar to promote health care and gerontology career training for older adults.

Morgan Community College, Fort Morgan, Colo., which will accelerate training programs for health care careers so they can be completed faster, employ a student navigator to recruit and orient encore students, and provide help with job placement in health and social service organizations.

Parkland College, Champaign, Ill., which will recruit experienced nurses and others to retrain for new health careers.  The college will also establish a mentoring program for people interested in helping students in health. 

Prince George’s Community College, Largo, Md., which will adapt its existing 60-plus older learner program to train students over 50 for health and human service careers. The college will provide comprehensive career and life coaching, job search skills and resume development.  An advisory board will make connections with local employers and make the case for encore talent.

San Juan College, Farmington, N.M., which will create a marketing plan to educate older adults about available encore career pathways in education, health care and social services. Support services – including re-careering classes, support groups, training in test anxiety, study skills, time management, tutoring services and a resource center – will be provided.

Whatcom Community College, Bellingham, Wash., which will create yearlong, fast-track training programs for adults over 50 who want to work in health care.  A public-private alliance will be formed to create more yearlong health care training programs based on work-force needs.

“In any economy, let alone a downturn, it can be tough to make a career transition,” explained Judy Goggin, vice president at Civic Ventures who runs the Encore College Initiative.  “These grants recognize and support community colleges as a go-to place for boomers training for encore careers combining passion, purpose and a paycheck.”

For more information on Civic Ventures’ Encore Colleges Initiative, go to www.encore.org/colleges.

Civic Ventures
is a think tank focused on boomers, work and social purpose. For more information, visit www.encore.org

The Deerbrook Trust is a private foundation whose mission is to provide individuals of all ages with opportunities for a better education, a stronger family, a healthier life and a more secure future. For more information, visit www.deerbrooktrust.org