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May 2003 - Article from Texas Workforce Commission's "Texas
@ Work"
Contact: Lesley L. Tarpinian at (512) 463-0221
The rapid advances of technology have significantly
increased the digital divide between employers' need for workers
comfortable with technology and the abilities of the available
workforce. This is true for Spanish-speaking welfare recipients
as well.
To help bridge this gap, TWC and the Upper
Rio Grande, Permian Basin and Lower Rio Grande workforce development
boards have been working with Dallas-based contractor Business
Access to increase opportunities for Spanish-speaking welfare recipients.
Using a Spanish In-Home Learning System, recipients can utilize
technology that puts computers, Internet access and customized
educational content straight into their living rooms.
"We are happy to be able to offer this
ground-breaking tool to our Spanish-speaking customers," said
Martin Aguirre, executive director of the Upper Rio Grande Workforce
Board. "This new option is going to make a real difference
for many in our community."
Business Access builds customized Web sites
specifically designed to serve welfare recipients, at-risk youth
and historically disadvantaged families, though the content is
designed to meet all users needs. The company's program goals are
to introduce the Spanish community to technology as a tool for
lifelong learning; to help individuals gain immediate work skills
that may result in employment, increased pay or promotion; and
to assist with job retention.
"The Spanish program was made available
to the public April 2," said Kim Bunting, Business Access
chief executive officer. "The Spanish version is comprised
of similar, but not the same, content as the English site."
TWC has funded a total of $2 million toward
the In-Home Learning System. Half of these funds went toward the
development of the system in Spanish, and the remainder is being
made available for smaller workforce boards to purchase access
to the system for currently employed workers or welfare recipients.
In-Home Learning "Communities" can be funded with multiple
funding sources, with each having different outcomes and participation
requirements.
"After receiving recognition for the English
In-Home Learning System as a promising Welfare-to-Work practice
from former Assistant Secretary of Labor Ray Brammucci, the Spanish
version seemed a natural progression to help address border communities
that were struggling for innovative methods to resolve area workforce
issues," said Randal Wier, Dallas WorkSource Welfare-to-Work
program manager.
The Spanish In-Home Learning System helps participants
with low literacy and little or no computer skills. Business Access
provides five times the industry standard in tech support. Animated
screen help can read all Internet-based text, provide dictionary
and guidance on how to use the system in both Spanish and English.
The program is free for participants, who Business Access refers
to as "@chievers." They must first register with a workforce
center and be found eligible to participate in the program. Upon
entering the program, @chievers must agree to commit to completing
their customized training curriculum and to either find or retain
employment.
"The Spanish site will have its own community," Bunting
said. "Athough chats, bulletin boards, instant messaging and
broadcast messaging will mix both Spanish and English sites, it
is set up so that all @chievers may communicate with each other."
The projected participant rate for the Spanish
site is more than 1,000 @chievers over the next year, depending
on what each workforce board requests. Twenty seats is the current
minimum purchase requirement.
"It's important to address the needs of
our community," said Aguirre. "We have long wanted tools
in the clients' first language, and training in Spanish serves
a very important need."
The English version, which was introduced four
years ago in Dallas, was higWy successful with the first 1,400
@chievers: 72 percent are no longer receiving Temporary Assistance
for Needy Families (TANF), 63 percent have received a wage increase,
and 44 percent have reported getting a better job or promotion.
More information about the Spanish or
English In-Home Learning System is available through local workforce
centers.
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