The Opportunity Partnership program is intended to give Opportunity Grant students the benefit of a supportive mentor working in the field they hope to enter, direct workplace experience through job shadowing or internship, and a strong relationship to a local employer who is likely to hire them upon completion of their training. The Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board (Workforce Board) will administer the program and measure the impact on training retention, completion, and transition to employment. The intent is to test whether these WDC-brokered activities have positive impact for students, and whether the model should be considered for expansion.
The Workforce Board requests proposals from Washington’s Workforce Development Councils interested in participating in the Opportunity Partnership Program 2009-2010. This competitive grant process will engage a review panel of subject matter experts to evaluate proposals based upon the ability of the applicant to show they are able to connect Opportunity Grant students with industry mentors, work effectively with industry mentors, community and technical colleges, and private career schools.
2007 legislation (2SHB 1096) created the Opportunity Grant Program providing financial aid and other services to low-income students enrolled in high employer demand programs of study. The legislation also created the related Opportunity Partnership Program to provide industry mentors and relevant job experience to students to help them to complete their programs and transition to the workforce successfully. The State Board for Community and Technical Colleges has made a portion of the Opportunity Grant program funds available to the Workforce Board for the Opportunity Partnership Program for 2009 and 2010.
The Opportunity Partnership Program will provide industry mentors and relevant job experience to students participating in the Opportunity Grant Program with the goals of enhancing student retention, completion and transition to work. Participating Workforce Development Councils will work with area colleges and local businesses to connect students with industry mentors. As specified in the enabling legislation, the Opportunity Partnership Program “may be newly developed or part of an existing program.”
Request for Proposal due December 7, 2009
Reports and related documents from South Central Workforce Development Council Opportunity Grant Pilot project.
South Central Workforce Development Council final report
Reports and related documents from Workforce Development Council of Seattle-King County Opportunity Grant pilot project.
Hospital Information Recruitment
Mentoring Project Student Application Form
Opportunity Service Plan Draft