Resource Center

“Someone to Rely On”

Mentoring programs are growing more common across transit agencies in the U.S., but most of them are specific to fixed-route operators and technicians. In Ohio, Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA) and Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 268 have pioneered a structured mentoring program for paratransit operators, as well as fixed-route operators. This “mini case study” focuses on the paratransit mentoring program, including lessons learned from its first two years.

Link to Case Study

Working with pre-apprentices and apprentices requires a combination of case management and coaching. This webinar provides the fundamentals of case management and coaching and teaches a framework for effective service delivery. This session also focuses on the use of assessments for productive service planning, quality program documentation and team communication for successful handoffs.

MODERATOR(S)

• Luis Roig, Contracting Officer’s Representative, Office of Apprenticeship, U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration

PRESENTER(S)

• Amy Landesman, Grantee Coach, ICF
• Valerie Taylor, Grantee Coach, ICF

Link to Webinar Recording and Supplemental Documents

In rural communities, widely dispersed populations face a multitude of access challenges. Faced with a declining talent pool, lower educational attainment, and rising poverty rates caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, there is an urgent need to prepare young people in rural areas for high-demand careers.

As part of the Implementing Workforce Programs for Rural Youth series, this webinar, hosted by the Office of Apprenticeship, focused on best practices and creative solutions for increasing pre-apprenticeship and youth apprenticeship access, enrollment, retention, and program completion for young people in rural areas. Featured youth apprenticeship intermediaries and partners shared their accomplishments in developing youth apprenticeship opportunities in rural areas, establishing networks of support, and best utilizing available resources to ensure pre-and youth apprenticeship success.

MODERATOR(S)

• Maisha Meminger, Manpower Analyst , Division of Youth Services, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration

PRESENTER(S)

• Vanessa Bennett, Associate Director, Center for Apprenticeship & Work-Based Learning, Jobs for the Future
• Zach Boren Senior Policy Program Manager, Urban Institute
• Bhavani Arabandi, Senior Research Associate, Urban Institute
• Jacqueline Rayfield, Policy Analyst, Urban Institute

Link to Webinar Recording and Supplemental Documents

Administering Agency: Employment and Training Administration

Closing Date for Applications: Sep 16, 2024 Applications must be submitted electronically no later than 11:59 pm Eastern Time.

Estimated Total Program Funding: $99,000,000

Geographic Scope: National

Description: Under this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), DOL will award grants through a competitive process to organizations providing pre-apprenticeship services that support education, occupational skills training, and employment services to opportunity youth, ages 16 to 24, who are performing meaningful work and service to their communities. The YouthBuild program model prepares participants for quality jobs in a variety of careers, in diverse industry sectors, particularly in infrastructure sectors, and includes wrap-around services such as mentoring, trauma-informed care, personal counseling, transportation supports, and employment preparation – all key strategies for addressing violence in communities. YouthBuild applicants must include construction skills training and may include occupational skills training in other in-demand industries. This expansion into additional in-demand industries is the Construction Plus component. Eligible applicants for these grants are public or private non-profit agencies or organizations, including consortia of such agencies or organizations. These organizations include rural, urban, or Native American/Tribal entities that have previously served opportunity youth in a YouthBuild or other similar program. DOL will fund approximately 75 projects across the country. Individual grants will range from $700,000 to $1.5 million and require a 25 percent match from applicants, using sources other than federal funding. This FOA features a matching waiver for Tribal entities and U.S. insular areas which allows these entities to not include a match commitment in their applications. The grant period of performance for this FOA is 40 months, including a four-month planning period and a twelve-month follow-up period.

Information page on grants.gov

The Project on Workforce released new recommendations for educators, employers, and policymakers on how to improve college-to-jobs connections. With these webinars and stakeholder briefs, they aim to increase attention and investment in college-to-career transitions and show how colleges can better deliver on economic prosperity.

Stakeholder Brief #1 | Strengthening College-Employer Partnerships Stakeholder Brief #2 | Expanding Equitable Work-based Learning Opportunities Stakeholder Brief #3 | Redesigning Postsecondary Accountability Measures to Promote Student Success Stakeholder Brief #4 | Driving Regional Economic Development Through Higher Education Stakeholder Brief #5 | Modernizing and Leveraging Education-Workforce Data Systems Stakeholder Brief #6 | Preparing Students with the Skills to Navigate the Future of Work

Enjoy this recorded convening of TWC’s American Transit Training and Apprenticeship Innovators Network (ATTAIN) comprised of several engaging presentations that highlight apprenticeship programs across the nation, followed by interactive discussions with Fairfax County Connector/Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 689 and Metro Transit/ATU Local 1005 on the development of mentorship and apprenticeship programs, how they work, and the benefits they can offer agencies and their workforce.

Below, you can find the link to the full slideshow used in the meeting.

Full PPT - ATTAIN: Bus Maintenance Apprenticeship Meeting 2024