Arizona

• Since its inception in 1978, Arizona Extension's PHASE program has helped 6,000 single parents and displaced homemakers in Pima County complete their education and find jobs. The program offers job-related scholarships, job-seeking skills and job placement. Participants who move on to college have achieved a 100 percent graduation rate; it has become a national model for similar programs across the United States.

California

• Scientists developed "Gateway to a Better Life," a training curriculum to help people entering the work force remain employed. It has been adopted by agencies in California, Arizona and Georgia.

Florida

• The impacts of this project related to the objectives is in terms of training received and employment obtained. The real impact related to the contract is whether these individuals will be able to keep the job for six months. This determination will be made during the outcome evaluation stage of the project during the last six months of the Project. Individual impacts are illustrated in examples of statements made by individuals who have are been involved with the program or who have completed one of the courses. Impact statements made by individuals about the Welfare to Work Courses The food safety program has benefitted the WTW customers in many ways. It increases their skill level, knowledge and job confidence. When writing their resume and going for interviews at restaurants they can feel assured they are bringing valuable food service skills to the job. - Adam Hartmann, Lead Career Facilitator, Bradford One-Stop Career Center I want to let you know how much I value the Food Safety program. After taking the program, I started working at Burger King in Starke, Fla. I think the training has made me more aware of how important keeping everything clean at work is for everyone's health. - Latrissa Williams, WtW program graduate and single mother Thanks to the Food Safety class, my family and I just might be able to survive in this world. I now have a chance to provide my children with what they need and deserve. Thanks UF and Food Safety at the Tip of Your Fingers! - Michelle Philpot, WtW program graduate and single mother The things I've learned in the food safety class can be used anywhere at anytime. Before I took this class, I was basically poisoning my family. We learned how to keep ourselves, our families, and the people around us safe and germ free. - Carlena Brown, WtW program graduate Food Safety is my foot in the door. This class will enable me to get a better job. It is a step in the right direction for financial independence and a better way of life for myself and my children. - Ruth Schauer, WtW program graduate and single mother Tiffany learned how important it experience and personal activities are to a job applicant during a Teen Mother's program. As a result, she will volunteer at the local police station until she attends police academy. She realized through the class that volunteering is an excellent resource for a resume, will further prepare her for the academy, and give her valuable experience in the law enforcement field. - Harriet Groom, WtW instructor I was trying to get my high school diploma through a GED program at NFCC when I took the Elder Companion, Horticulture and JobStart programs. I mowed grass, worked with flowers and worked on a plantation. I'm leaning toward wanting to be employed as an Elder Companion but I just might get into horticulture instead! - Frances Jackson, WtW program graduate These short courses give the student a chance to succeed, a chance to learn, and a chance to invite their friends and family to graduation ceremony. It may be the only graduation they have had. In addition to learning job skills, they have a great sense of accomplishment and more confidence in their ability to get a job and finish their GED. - Jeanine Mordon, WtW instructor My husband has a bone disease and won't be able to support our family soon. After completing the Elder Companion course, I became employed with a local nursing home. This is one of the first things that I have started and successfully completed! - Meta Luke, WtW program graduate I went to Winsor Manor Nursing Home and met with Ms. Barbara Brooks, the administrator and Chuck Lancaster, the director of nursing. They also were very excited about the volunteers coming in to do their observation and volunteer time. Ms. Brooks indicated that if some of the volunteers worked out, that the nursing home has money to use to put them through CNA school. She said in the past they had put people through the class and then could not hire them due to their background screenings. I told her that these individuals would already have a completed screening prior to their completion of my class. They are very interested in this program. -Janice Logue, WtW instructor I went to Starke yesterday to set up volunteer sites. It was a very productive trip. Ms. Dorothy Rondelli at the school board was very excited about using volunteers in the schools. She also indicated that if the volunteers wanted to sign up on their substitute list, they would call them to work when the schools had workers call in sick. She said they do not have enough people on the list and most times the schools have to go short-handed in the kitchens. She also said that they hire full-time employees off their substitute list!!! -Janice Logue, WtW instructor Students were able to actually "shadow" CNAs yesterday and today. The CNAs were surprised at how much the students know, and likewise, the students were surprised at how much they had learned in class. The material is very relevant to basic knowledge they will need for CNA. Both the manager of the assisted living facility and the supervisor were pleased that this course was available, they have jobs available and money to send our graduates to CNA school. -Glenda Curtis, WtW instructor Jennifer Johnson and Phoebe McCloud both completed all 10 sessions of the Food Safety course and went on to take the Food Manager's Certificate exam. Ms. Johnson scored 90% and Ms. McCloud scored 80%. Both received their certificates. The Institute for Instructional Research and Practice University of South Florida will keep their records on computer and list them in the official registry. The Institute will verify their certification status for prospective employers and regulatory agencies. -Lorraine Sanders, WtW insturctor Leary Technical School established a career path for Elder Companion students to go to CNA training. Through Leary Technical School, fourteen nursing homes in Hillsborough County participate in this program. It can be completed at no cost to the WtW participant. In addition, this opened up volunteer sites at the nursing homes. Through the Area Agency on Aging, six different senior day care centers in the county have welcomed our students as volunteers. -Glenda Curtis, WtW instructor Angela Sullivan had gone to work at the Juvenile Justice Dept. from 11 PM to 7 AM. When she was at ACTS, she had expressed an interest in Elder Companion but it was not offered at that time. Carol Lowery called her to tell her it was now being offered. Angela has a developmentally delayed teen-age son, but decided to work this class into her already busy schedule. She got off work at 7 AM, went home to bathe him, feed him through a gastric tube, put him on a day care van, and came to my class. She tells me she will enroll in a CNA class in January and then plans to get her LPN. She has so much desire that I'm sure she will reach her goal. How many of us want education that badly? -Glenda Curtis, WtW instructor. Full Program Description

New Mexico

• A New Mexico State program worked with low-income youth, offering job training tips to more than 1,200 young people. A survey showed 81 percent felt they know a lot about finding a job after the program, compared with a 12 percent before.

New Jersey

• This program had the initial impact of creating a cooperative spirit and united effort among the newly formed partnership of ARMA and 4-H Depts. of RCE, CYFAR, NJ Youth Corps, and tree care companies. Of the 18 original training participants, six went on as paid interns, joining the ranks of a utility line clearance company (4) and a residential tree care company (2). This decline was anticipated, as the training program was also a decision making process for the participants to determine if this physically demanding career choice was a viable one for them. A major limiting factor for the participants was transportation, as many did not hold a valid NJ driver's license. Carpooling was necessary, resulting in peer decisions regarding host-company and location. Of the six who completed the training and paid internship, four received and accepted full-time employment opportunities from their host companies and remained employed from 6 weeks (2 interns) to 4 months (2 interns). The NJYC, 2000 program host companies, and other NJ and PA tree care companies have expressed a great interest in participating as trainers and / or hosts for the 2001 program. Full Program Description
  
  
• Through this program, youth operate farmers markets selling Jersey Fresh produce to the community. The local agricultural community supplies the produce. The youth farmers markets are a part of the Workforce Preparation initiative of the 4-H Youth Development department .The program originated out of the Nutritional Sciences Department of Rutgers University. The 4-H Agent in Monmouth County has developed sites in Long Branch and Asbury Park , each one reflective of the grassroots efforts unique to that community . In both programs, the 4-H farmers market was erected next to the WIC voucher distribution site to permit easy access. Full Program Description
  

Ohio

• Information Technology
  Program Contact - Don Ordaz, Jr., ordaz.1@osu.edu
  Countywide 40 junior high and high school teachers were given a workshop on how to use the Ohio Career Information System in their individual classrooms. Since the OCIS Program is available to every classroom in the county, suggestions of how to integrate career information into daily lesson plans were welcome. 80% of those participating were going to include this tool on a weekly basis. Four computers were installed at a Senior Citizen Center and three computers were installed at the Even Start Center. They all have Internet access. Volunteers helped Senior Citizens learn to use the Internet. Parents participating in the Even Start program were encouraged to use software concerning parenting skills and to use the Internet as a major source of information. Adults in the ABLE Program use the lab weekly to improve their test taking skills to help pass the GED exam.
  
  
• Over 500 residents of an Ohio Village were served by the Strengthening Ohio's Leadership (SOL) program. In collaboration with two other neighborhood based organizations, Extension was able to provide educational programs and services focusing on leadership development as well as computer literacy and electronic connectivity.

Washington

• Connecting to the hinterlands - Rugged Ferry County in Washington went from among the lowest to highest per capita usage of the Internet in the state, thanks to Washington State Extension.