Contact: Chris Chesrown
Media Relations Manager
480-731-8503

For Immediate Release

Program to Help Refugees Find Jobs Earns National Recognition for Maricopa Skill Center

December 20, 2001 - The Refugee Targeted Assistance Program at the Maricopa Skill Center has been named an Exemplary Program by the National Dissemination Center for Career and Technical Education a division of the U.S. Department of Education.

A panel of university-level researchers, practitioners, and state-level administrators evaluated 53 programs based on criteria for effectiveness and success, educational significance, program quality and potential for replication or usefulness to others. The Refugee Targeted Assistance Program was cited as "exemplary" for all criteria.

"Receiving this honor is humbling," according to the Executive Director of the Maricopa Skill Center Stanley Grossman. "The most rewarding part of our work, however, is knowing that we are helping people who may be persecuted in other countries get a sound start at a new life."

The program was founded several years ago in response to the rising numbers of refugees arriving in the Phoenix area who were struggling to obtain good jobs with benefits. The program will educate almost 200 students this year from nearly 50 countries. Students are typically second and third wage-earners in families who face significant language and cultural barriers to employment. The RTAP mission is to help refugees become self-supporting as soon as possible through career and technical training that can enable them to earn a good living with benefits.

The program model is unique, offering an exceptionally good match to the needs of its clientele. Every student is matched with a caseworker who works to insure that potential barriers to success are addressed. No-cost childcare and transportation are available to all participants for a six-month period, during which almost all can successfully complete a program of study leading to a job. The center's primary goal is to place students in jobs with high wages and benefits, following a training period of no more than six months. The average wage of their graduates is $8.56 per hour, compared with $7.30 among refugees in other parts of the country.

English and basic life skills classes are taught in addition to the selected course of study in one of 12 major career areas with a total of 150 different occupational certificates. There are no educational requirements to enroll, and students begin training at their own levels of knowledge, graduating when they have mastered the skills required for a given certificate. Each of the center's programs have multiple exit points that lead to employment in the current job market, so students of varying abilities or limited time can achieve success.

The Skill Center's effectiveness is greatly enhanced by its partnerships with business, educational and community organizations. The Maricopa Skill Center is part of GateWay Community College in Phoenix, Arizona.

The Maricopa County Community College District is one of the largest community college districts in the nation. It includes 10 colleges - Chandler-Gilbert Community College, Estrella Mountain Community College, GateWay Community College, Glendale Community College, Mesa Community College, Paradise Valley Community College, Phoenix College, Rio Salado College, Scottsdale Community College and South Mountain Community College. The District also includes the Maricopa Skill Center, Southwest Skill Center, several satellite campuses and business/industry, technical and customized training institutes and serves nearly a quarter million students annually. For more information: 480-731-8000 or www.maricopa.edu

-maricopa community colleges-

- disclaimer -
We welcome feedback
March 13, 2002