Maryland Center for Adult Training, Inc.
The Maryland Center for Adult Training (MCAT) provides market-specific, technology-based, vocational training for the economically disadvantaged Baltimore City residents. Last year, MCAT enrolled 87 Certified Nursing Assistant/Geriatric Nursing Assistant (CNA/GNA) students. Of the 87 students enrolled, 74 students (or 85 percent) completed their certification training, with a grade average of 85 percent or higher. Of those graduates, 66 students (or 89 percent) became employed, earning an average annual salary of $23,207. MCAT also offered a Patient Care Technician training program, enrolling eight students. All eight successfully completed the training course, became nationally certified and are now employed, earning an average salary of $30,680. In the coming year, MCAT plans to train 45 students as CNAs/GNAs 15 students as Patient Care Technicians.
Job Opportunities Task Force
The Job Opportunities Task Force (JOTF) is an independent nonprofit organization that works to develop and advocate policies and programs to increase the skills, job opportunities, and incomes of low-skill, low-income Maryland workers and job seekers. In partnership with Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), JOTF operates Project JumpStart, a pre-apprenticeship construction program that provides low-income Baltimore City residents with 14 weeks of pre-apprenticeship training in plumbing, electrical and carpentry. With funding from the Abell Foundation, Project Jumpstart plans to serve 125 residents over six classes in two locations in Baltimore City. Approximately 80% of those who are enrolled will complete; 75% of those who complete will be placed into employment with wages averaging over $12/hr. For the past two years, 28% of those who are placed into employment have enrolled into the four-year ABC apprenticeship program. First-year apprentices earn between $12 and $16 per hour; with annual increases, by the time an apprentice graduates in four years and obtains journeymen status, he or she is earning $24 to $36 per hour.
CASA de Maryland, Inc.
The Baltimore Welcome Center provides employment placement services for day laborers and low-income workers who begin to assemble early in the morning in the hope of being selected for jobs in construction, landscaping, home improvement, sanitation, and other day-to-day, physical labor-intensive jobs. In the coming year, CASA plans to place workers in 1,700 daily jobs, 40 temporary/seasonal jobs, and 35 permanent jobs; to provide 150 people with legal consultation on immigration, employment, or housing matters; to provide 500 people with basic financial education/counseling, and 300 low-income households with free tax preparation services; yo educate 200 eligible Legal Permanent Residents (LPRs) about the naturalization process, and help 75 LPRs submit their naturalization application; and to provide 60 students with Mi Espacio after-school programming.
BioTechnical Institute of Maryland, Inc.
Since 1998, with support from the Abell Foundation, BTI has trained over 400 Baltimore City residents as entry-level technicians in the growing bio-pharma industry. Students first complete BioSTART, BTI’s six-week bridge program, which was started so that BTI could admit students with lower math scores. The program is working. On average, BioSTART students increase their math scores by at least three grade levels, testing at the 11th-grade level by the end of six weeks. Students move on to the Laboratory Associates program, where student continue training for 9 weeks and complete three-week internships. Over the past year, 45 enrolled into BioSTART, with 37 (or 82 percent completing the 6-week program). These 37 students enrolled in the 9-week Lab Associates program. Of these students, 32 (or 86 percent) completed the training. BTI estimates that over 77 percent of those graduates will be placed into research laboratory and manufacturing technician positions, at an average wage of $13.77/hour.
Job Opportunities Task Force
The Job Opportunities Task Force (JOTF) is an independent nonprofit organization that works to develop and advocate policies and programs to increase the skills, job opportunities, and incomes of low-skill, low-income Maryland workers and job seekers. In partnership with Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), JOTF operates Project JumpStart, a pre-apprenticeship construction program that provides low-income Baltimore City residents with 14 weeks of pre-apprenticeship training in plumbing, electrical and carpentry. With funding from the Abell Foundation, Project Jumpstart plans to serve 125 residents over six classes in two locations in Baltimore City. Approximately 80% of those who are enrolled will complete; 75% of those who complete will be placed into employment with wages averaging over $12/hr. For the past two years, 28% of those who are placed into employment have enrolled into the four-year ABC apprenticeship program. First-year apprentices earn between $12 and $16 per hour; with annual increases, by the time an apprentice graduates in four years and obtains journeymen status, he or she is earning $24 to $36 per hour.