The Division of Continuing Education and Workforce Development (CEWD) at Hostos recently received grants from the Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD), the Regional Economic Development Council’s (REDC) Consolidated Funding Application, and the Capital One Foundation totaling more than $400,000. The newly acquired funds enable the division to continue to provide no-cost career training programs designed to prepare individuals to enter or advance in high-demand fields such as healthcare and information technology.
 
“Our division is very excited to receive these grants because they allow us to provide free occupational training that results in an industry-recognized credential for people in the community who typically may not have access to these programs. It’s a game-changer for the college and our ability to transition students to the world of work,” said Evelyn Fernández-Ketcham, Executive Director for Workforce Development.
 
Hostos received two $100,000 grants from the NYS Department of Labor’s Unemployed Worker Training Program through the REDC’s Consolidated Funding Application. The College will use each of the awards to continue offering the Computer Support Technician Apprenticeship program and Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) training to unemployed members of the community. The funds will also help ensure participants in the latter program are also CPR trained and certified.
 
DYCD awarded Hostos close to $114,000 to provide Allied Health occupational training to out-of-school and out-of-work young adults in partnership with community-based agencies. CEWD has developed a unique program model that includes an Introduction to Careers in Healthcare seminar. This intensive program helps young adults maximize their success in a career training program by giving them access to labor market information, as well as to faculty and guest speakers who can provide insight into the advantages of acquiring an industry-recognized credential offered through CEWD at Hostos.
 
Hostos also received its third consecutive $150,000 grant from the Capital One Foundation in November as part of a multi-year grant initiative—The Community College Workforce Development (CCWD) Cohort. CEWD will continue to work with the Office of Academic Affairs and faculty to develop new credit articulation agreements, which give credit to students who enroll in Hostos after successfully completing a CEWD occupational training program in high-demand fields such as Allied Health and Information Technology. The long-term goals are to better prepare students to enter the College and to improve students’ credit accumulation and employment rates.
 
Learn more about the career training programs offered through CEWD here.