Careers in Healthcare Atlanta Mobility Project (CHAMP)

11 of Atlanta’s 15 fastest-growing occupations are in health care, and each of these occupations can be entered with an associate’s degree or lesser credential. To support individuals in accessing these growing jobs, CHAMP works with local hospitals to provide training for incumbent employees to move up, and jobseekers to move into the health care field. Several early projects have been brought together in CHAMP—which stands for Careers in Healthcare Atlanta Mobility Project. CHAMP creates a pathway for individuals to reach a critical entry point for a position with a health care employer, and then to prepare for advancement into health occupations in high demand. Incumbent training varies among employers and has included School at Work™ support, coaching, needs assessment, and onsite occupational skills training. In addition, CHAMP works with health care organizations to analyze their workforce needs and the aspirations of their current incumbents in low-wage jobs to create recommendations for programs and services that meet the needs of the organization and their workforce.

Logistics Partnership

Created in 2014, the Logistics Partnership provides employers in the airport-based logistics, distribution, and transportation industries with the talent they need for growth and puts individuals on a path to a good job in a growing sector. Still in development, the Partnership has identified two logistics segments to target for pilot projects: entry-level international trade (due to the turnover and training needs for front-end office workers) and warehouse/distribution (due to the large number of warehouse/distribution firms in the airport area and projected growth). It plans to support individuals in developing skills for these critical positions.

Electronics Workforce Alliance

CareerRise launched the Electronics Workforce Alliance in 2014 to address the region’s need for more job-ready workers with soldering skills, including industry-recognized credentials for working on warrantied devices used in automotive, aviation, or medical applications. To develop this critical workforce, EWA recruits unemployed and underemployed individuals for a four-week training program led by partners Cardinal Training and Goodwill of North Georgia. Funding is provided by the Workforce Investment Opportunity Act and/or CareerRise, and trainees receive case management, job readiness, and employability skills training along with the specialized electronics curriculum. Upon completion, graduates have specialized soldering skills and internationally recognized certificates valued by industry employers. Many graduates receive multiple certifications, raising the likelihood of placement or higher pay. The third week of each four-week program features Hiring Day, when employers and staffing agency partners interview and offer jobs to trainees.

Construction Partnership

With new demand from multiple large-scale infrastructure and construction projects, Atlanta CareerRise is working to develop more construction workers through short-term training that lead to employment. In early 2016, Atlanta CareerRise invested in construction as a new sector of focus, and committed funding to scale two promising partnerships: Construction Ready at TCWFI expands a successful 20-day boot camp program in basic construction and CDL B / Ready Mix with partners Construction Education Foundation of Georgia, the Center for Working Families, and others. The program will train and place 60 unemployed individuals into full-time, industry-based employment. The Goodwill’s Floor Installation Program is a seven-week hands-on classroom instruction and on-the-job training program that will serve 48 students. CareerRise funding is expanding the partnership based on lessons learned from pilot training. Successful graduates earn industry-recognized credentials and complete a paid internship with employer partners.