C2C was a community college consortium designed to develop and provide education and training to prepare unemployed, underemployed, and displaced workers to take on jobs in science, technology, engineering, and math industries. Participants in Shoreline Community College’s local C2C program enrolled in machinist training programs such as the Machine Maintenance Certificate and Quality Assurance Certificate programs. Career navigators led work-readiness activities focused on job placement and building relationships with employers, as well as soft-skills coaching.

C2C was a community college consortium designed to develop and provide education and training to prepare unemployed, underemployed, and displaced workers to take on jobs in science, technology, engineering, and math industries. Northern Virginia Community College’s (NOVA’s) local C2C program, called NOVA’s IT Pathway, led to credentials and careers in IT-related fields. The program was implemented by NOVA and its strategic community and business partners.

CareerAdvance participants enrolled in one of three programs linked to a health care career (nursing, health information technology, or medical assisting). Participants also received funding for tuition, books and supplies, additional child care assistance (if child care needs could not be met through the Head Start program alone), coaching, and financial incentives for meeting program milestones. Peer support groups were also available.

As part of the Health Careers Collaborative of Greater Cincinnati, individuals who were unemployed and interested in health careers, such as nursing, rehabilitation, health information technology, or biotechnology, worked with an advisor to meet their career goals. Participants could receive a variety of trainings and services based on these goals. They were offered trainings on soft skills and financial literacy, along with job-search assistance and work-readiness activities.

The Milwaukee Area Healthcare Alliance, a workforce intermediary led by the YMCA of Greater Milwaukee, partnered with health care employers to identify needed skills and provided occupational training to participants to help meet those needs. The program also offered on-the-job-training and job search assistance. The program served workers in the Milwaukee, WI, region who were low skilled and unemployed.

The WorkAdvance model includes five key elements: (1) intensive screening before enrollment; (2) preemployment and work-readiness services, including career coaching, supportive services, and labor market information, all tailored to a specific occupational sector; (3) occupational skills training focused on current job openings; (4) job development and placement; and (5) provision of follow-up retention and advancement services in collaboration with employers. It is a versatile model that organizations implement in various ways.