Monthly Archives June 2020

KRA Expands Online Services for Customers During Pandemic   In March 2016, the San Diego Metro Region America’s Job Career Centers (AJCC)—now a County-wide workforce-services program operated by KRA for the San Diego Workforce Partnership (SDWP)—launched its first major online program, Searching in San Diego, the official SDWP Podcast for on-demand access to the most up-to-date “workforce topics, trends, and tips” for both jobseeker- and employer-customers. To date, 81 podcasts have aired, dual-hosted by Diana Saldivar, KRA Career Centers Brand Manager and Doug Foresta, Workforce180 Director of Podcast Services and Communications, and supported by a team of Career- and Business-Services professionals, whose own experiences, many
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KRA operates the Work Participation, Placement, and Support Services Program, for the Baltimore City Department of Social Services (BCDSS), assisting TANF-benefit jobseekers through strategic collaborations with private- and public-sector organizations to create employment opportunities through Community Work Experience and Occupational Skills Training (OST) programs. To address local employers’ needs for job candidates with computer-related skills— now, and in our new-normal virtual environment—last month, MedCerts joined KRA/Baltimore City in a partnership to offer Fundamentals of IT as a blended-learning program, with graduates receiving IT certification through CompTIA. To date, KRA has enrolled 33 female and two male customers for whom MedCerts IT Specialists
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In 2015, KRA launched the proprietary Knowledge2Career (K2C) Academy, offering Out-of-School Youth customized career services, including on-the-job training (OJT) linked directly to employment with companies in high-demand industries. KRA operates the K2C Academy for Capital Workforce Partners, the North Central Connecticut WDB, in partnership with the Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology (CCAT). Targeting the Manufacturing Industry, traditionally, K2C provided coursework through Tooling U-SME, and hands-on instruction through OJT agreements with participating employers. However, on March 17, just when KRA introduced a new K2C cohort, with 19 K2C students, who had passed the required Mechanical Aptitude Test, COVID-19 restrictions went into effect in the state. Tony
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On September 4, 2018, in partnership with the Home Builders Institute (HBI), the YouthWorks! program—operated by KRA for the Anne Arundel Workforce Development Corporation—celebrated the opening of its Construction Academy with an enrollment of 13 students, nine of which graduated on January 11, 2019. HBI is the creator of the award-winning, results-driven PACT [Pre-Apprenticeship Certificate Training] Program that combines academic learning and vocational hands-on instruction. From January 2019 and March 2020, thirty-eight more students enrolled, with 21 earning PACT certification, 19 gaining training-related employment, 9 placed in paid work-experience programs, and 10, unfortunately, in limbo status due to Maryland-enforced COVID-19
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KRA Remained “Open for Business” After Closing Program Sites Between March 19 and April 7, “lock downs” were implemented by 43 States, including varying quarantine, stay-at-home, and social-distancing orders. Ahead of the curve, on March 18, Knowlton R. Atterbeary, KRA President & CEO, announced, “We are collaborating with our client agencies to implement adjustments to our operations, which vary based on local circumstances, [which might include] moving all customer interactions on-line.” California was the first state to go into lock down. KRA was more than ready, closing its One-Stop Career Centers and transitioning staff to Work-From-Home (WFH) status at most
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