Women in the 21st Century Workplace: "Skill
Development Through On-Line Learning" Demonstration Project
The On-Line Learning Demonstration project was a collaborative effort
between the Women's Bureau, DOL's Employment and Training Administration, and
the New Jersey Department of Labor (NJDOL). The New Jersey Department of Labor
was awarded a two-year grant to develop a distance-learning project for
under-employed single mothers with children under 18 years of age in five New
Jersey counties. The NJDOL, in partnership with selected local Workforce
Investment Boards, implemented this innovative project.
Through this demonstration project, the Women's Bureau tested the
feasibility of participants earning computer certification or an Associates
degree through online courses compared with traditional educational settings
and methods.
The offered courses were designed to prepare the participants for high
skilled jobs in their local communities. Upon completion of
the program, the women who participated were placed into occupations that
require higher skills, and consequently will be commanding higher wages.
Participants included single working mothers in New Jersey. There
was an emphasis on serving those individuals whose incomes were lower than
250% of the poverty level. To supplement the grant, additional financial
resources were used from state and local funds from other programs,
including, but not limited to the Workforce Investment Act, Temporary
Assistance to Needy Families and Welfare-to-Work. As the women who participated
in this project were already employed, other resources, such as tuition
reimbursement available through an employer, was made available to
supplement the grant funding.
For more information please contact Karen Furia, Women's Bureau,
National Office, 202-693-6753.
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