Page 18 - Skills - 2024

GETTING SKILLS
allowing people who work during the day to take part,” she notes. Consistently popular adult courses include HVAC and electrical classes. “And our CISCO computer networking program continues to have strong growth. It now includes elements of web-based cybersecurity, which is pretty cool; and that’s a rapidly growing field.”
SWBOCES also partners with the Westchester County Association to help job seekers hone skills through the Westchester County Healthcare Talent Pipeline Program. So far, more than 100 BOCES-trained students have been matched with employers in regional healthcare jobs.
Westchester-Putnam Career Center Network (www.westchesterputnamonestop.com)
With locations in White Plains, Carmel, Mount Vernon, Peekskill, and Yonkers, the Westchester-Putnam Career Center Network (WPCCN) is a key outreach source for many job seekers.
“The centers are staffed mostly by employees from Westchester and Putnam counties and the state Department of Labor, as well as from partner agencies,” says Sherry Bruck, Career Center operator, who coordinates functions throughout the WPCCN. “Last year alone, we served more than 13,500 people,” she adds.
Focusing primarily on underserved residents, the centers
offer free resources including training programs and career counseling for youth and adults, and an online local jobs board. The WPCCN also partners with Indeed.com to present webinars and workshops through the virtual Job Search Academy.
The Individual Training Account (ITA) Program is another WPCCN employment aid. Providing free career advice and job-skills support, it operates together with partners including BOCES and Westchester County. “These trainings are often
in high-demand fields like HVAC or healthcare,” Bruck says. “They help people gain the skills needed to take their first steps toward getting a job and making a livable wage.”
The WPCCN also points many job seekers to the Northstar Digital Literacy Platform, which can be found at www.digitalliteracyassessment.org.
“Anyone can create a free account,” Bruck explains.
“The platform will assess your current computer skill level and offer relevant online trainings. And if the trainings are proctored by a Career Center Network staff member, some participants can earn certificates to include on their resume.”
The WPCCN continues to ramp up its monthly schedule of virtual workshops that, in conjunction with the state Department of Labor, cover multiple aspects of job training. “And now, post-COVID, we’re beginning to re-launch more workshops and job fairs that people can attend in person,” Bruck adds.
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