ADULT PATHWAYS

ADULT PATHWAYS

OVERVIEW     

HEA’s Adult Pathways works with community partners in developing opportunities for adults to pursue pathways to high-demand post-secondary credentials, advanced careers, and increased earnings while responding to the workforce needs of local industry. Our commitment is to provide opportunities for adults from diverse educational backgrounds, and with different skill levels, to be able to move forward on their career pathway. Through partnerships with Ivy Tech, Goshen College, industry partners, local high schools, libraries and other community partners, HEA is working to make these opportunities accessible for all adults, and to support transitions into employment and/or postsecondary. The Adult Pathways education programs are funded through support from Indiana’s Department of Workforce Development.

Interested in earning a diploma or certification, or improving your skills?

Please fill out our contact form to be contacted by an HEA staff member who can help identify the right program to fit your education and training needs. If you prefer to talk with someone about program offerings, please call 574-970-5820.

Por favor llene nuestra forma de contacto para un miembro del personal de la HEA que pueden ayudar a identificar el programa adecuado para satisfacer sus necesidades de educación y formación. Si prefiere hablar con alguien sobre los programas, llame al 574-970-5820.

Interested in earning a diploma or certification, or improving your skills?

Please fill out our contact form to be contacted by an HEA staff member who can help identify the right program to fit your education and training needs. If you prefer to talk with someone about program offerings, please call 574-970-5820.

Por favor llene nuestra forma de contacto para un miembro del personal de la HEA que pueden ayudar a identificar el programa adecuado para satisfacer sus necesidades de educación y formación. Si prefiere hablar con alguien sobre los programas, llame al 574-970-5820.

OVERVIEW     

HEA’s Adult Pathways works with community partners in developing opportunities for adults to pursue pathways to high-demand post-secondary credentials, advanced careers, and increased earnings while responding to the workforce needs of local industry. Our commitment is to provide opportunities for adults from diverse educational backgrounds, and with different skill levels, to be able to move forward on their career pathway. Through partnerships with Ivy Tech, Goshen College, industry partners, local high schools, libraries and other community partners, HEA is working to make these opportunities accessible for all adults, and to support transitions into employment and/or postsecondary. The Adult Pathways education programs are funded through support from Indiana’s Department of Workforce Development.

THE CHALLENGE

Elkhart County’s post-secondary attainment rate has historically lagged compared to the state and nation, and our percentage of adults without a high school diploma remains alarmingly high considering the limited economic prospects for this population.

Our county is committed to increasing the percentage of adults with a high school diploma and increasing post-secondary attainment rates through our integrated adult pathways programs.

THE SOLUTION

HEA supports our partners in developing immediate solutions to the current shortage of qualified workers through our innovative adult pathways programs. An unprecedented collaboration between industry, adult education programs, government, and post-secondary institutions is leading to new opportunities for all adults, regardless of educational level, to pursue meaningful career pathways or advance their current careers.

In 2018, Elkhart County was named a Lumina Talent Hub based on our work to advance educational attainment. Through our partnership with Lumina, our Talent Hub network has worked to close attainment gaps and ensure fair access to the support that leads to post-secondary success, with a focus on increasing postsecondary attainment of Latinx adults, adults with Limited English Proficiency, and low-income adults in our community. This has resulted in the expansion of our ENL program in partnership with Goshen College, the launch of bilingual certification programs, a partnership with Ivy Tech Community College and Goshen College to employ a bilingual career coach, and most recently the opportunity to complete the HSE in Spanish.

THE CHALLENGE

Elkhart County’s post-secondary attainment rate has historically lagged compared to the state and nation, and our percentage of adults without a high school diploma remains alarmingly high considering the limited economic prospects for this population.

Our county is committed to increasing the percentage of adults with a high school diploma and increasing post-secondary attainment rates through our integrated adult pathways programs.

THE SOLUTION

HEA supports our partners in developing immediate solutions to the current shortage of qualified workers through our innovative adult pathways programs. An unprecedented collaboration between industry, adult education programs, government, and post-secondary institutions is leading to new opportunities for all adults, regardless of educational level, to pursue meaningful career pathways or advance their current careers.

In 2018, Elkhart County was named a Lumina Talent Hub based on our work to advance educational attainment. Through our partnership with Lumina, our Talent Hub network has worked to close attainment gaps and ensure fair access to the support that leads to post-secondary success, with a focus on increasing postsecondary attainment of Latinx adults, adults with Limited English Proficiency, and low-income adults in our community. This has resulted in the expansion of our ENL program in partnership with Goshen College, the launch of bilingual certification programs, a partnership with Ivy Tech Community College and Goshen College to employ a bilingual career coach, and most recently the opportunity to complete the HSE in Spanish.

INDICATORS OF SUCCESS   

Enrollment in high-quality, industry-recognized credential programs

Our networks are working to expand the types of post-secondary options open to adults so more adults can take the first step on their career pathways. These options include certifications and other industry-recognized credentials focused on preparing adults for high-demand careers in our local community.

Adults with a high school degree or above

A high school degree is essential for long-term financial and career success and stability. Adults without a high school degree are especially vulnerable to economic downturns. As a community, we are committed to ensuring all adults have the opportunity to earn a high school degree or equivalent.

See our Outcomes Data page for more information about how Adult Pathways is making an impact.

INDICATORS OF SUCCESS   

Enrollment in high-quality, industry-recognized credential programs

Our networks are working to expand the types of post-secondary options open to adults so more adults can take the first step on their career pathways. These options include certifications and other industry-recognized credentials focused on preparing adults for high-demand careers in our local community.

Adults with a high school degree or above

A high school degree is essential for long-term financial and career success and stability. Adults without a high school degree are especially vulnerable to economic downturns. As a community, we are committed to ensuring all adults have the opportunity to earn a high school degree or equivalent.

See our Outcomes Data page for more information about how Adult Pathways is making an impact.

INITIATIVES   

HEA has offered three industry-recognized certification programs in response to local industry needs, and plans to launch additional programs in the future. HEA has offered the Certified Logistics Technician (CLT) program and the Certified Production Technician (CPT) program, through the Manufacturing Skills Standards Council (MSSC),> in partnership with several partners, including Grace College, the Elkhart County Jail, Ivy Tech, Goshen College and area businesses. The CPT is also offered as a bilingual program for adults with limited English proficiency. Industry members researched potential training programs and identified the CPT and CLT programs as the right program to fit their needs. Industry members reviewed the program curricula in order to ensure fit with their employment demands. These programs meet the immediate needs for higher-skilled frontline production workers. Many employers have had to move workers into positions before they had the necessary training because of a lack of qualified workers. This is creating significant production, safety, and quality issues. The CPT and CLT certifications are stackable degrees and can lead to additional higher-level degrees and credentials in advanced manufacturing. The expansion of training in other sectors, namely IT and healthcare, will help meet the need of employers and provide entry-level, stackable credentials for employees. HEA has already launched a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) certification program and is in the process of launching an I.T. certification – in both areas we are looking at including bilingual opportunities as well.

Our High School Equivalency (HSE) program is a hybrid educational delivery model. It integrates online learning with classroom instruction, ensuring flexibility and adaptability. It also provides consistent support and opportunities to build positive relationships with peers and instructors. Through collaboration with libraries, businesses, and community agencies, we are able to offer our program at locations across the county. We provide convenient access to computer labs for online education.

For adults who enter our program needing to improve their literacy skills, our Literacy Instructor evaluates current level and designs individualized programs, including both in-person and online components. Our literacy programs also provide additional support by pairing students with tutors in the community. Our Literacy Instructor and volunteer tutors work with adult learners to develop core literacy skills required to progress through the HSE program.

Our ENL program is implemented in partnership with Goshen College. ENL classes are offered on-site at Goshen College at multiple skill levels, with supplemental support through the online program Burlington English. Adults progress through the program as they advance in their skills. The goal of the ENL program is to increase skills to the level needed to enroll in the HSE program and to pursue an industry-recognized credential or post-secondary degree.

HEA supported the launch of an Advanced Manufacturing Sector Partnership (AMSP) in 2017. One of the goals of the AMSP is to create a coordinated talent development system for manufacturing and provide infrastructure to meet training needs in a sustained and effective way. AMSP members identify shared needs, design, and implement a combined approach to training, and create solutions to serve students and adults through training programs. The original Elkhart County AMSP facilitated the launch of the CPT and CLT training programs countywide. We are currently working on the next phase of the AMSP, which is informed by the sector partnership model of Next Generation Sector Partnerships.

INITIATIVES   

HEA has offered three industry-recognized certification programs in response to local industry needs, and plans to launch additional programs in the future. HEA has offered the Certified Logistics Technician (CLT) program and the Certified Production Technician (CPT) program, through the Manufacturing Skills Standards Council (MSSC),> in partnership with several partners, including Grace College, the Elkhart County Jail, Ivy Tech, Goshen College and area businesses. The CPT is also offered as a bilingual program for adults with limited English proficiency. Industry members researched potential training programs and identified the CPT and CLT programs as the right program to fit their needs. Industry members reviewed the program curricula in order to ensure fit with their employment demands. These programs meet the immediate needs for higher-skilled frontline production workers. Many employers have had to move workers into positions before they had the necessary training because of a lack of qualified workers. This is creating significant production, safety, and quality issues. The CPT and CLT certifications are stackable degrees and can lead to additional higher-level degrees and credentials in advanced manufacturing. The expansion of training in other sectors, namely IT and healthcare, will help meet the need of employers and provide entry-level, stackable credentials for employees. HEA has already launched a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) certification program and is in the process of launching an I.T. certification – in both areas we are looking at including bilingual opportunities as well.

Our High School Equivalency (HSE) program is a hybrid educational delivery model. It integrates online learning with classroom instruction, ensuring flexibility and adaptability. It also provides consistent support and opportunities to build positive relationships with peers and instructors. Through collaboration with libraries, businesses, and community agencies, we are able to offer our program at locations across the county. We provide convenient access to computer labs for online education.

For adults who enter our program needing to improve their literacy skills, our Literacy Instructor evaluates current level and designs individualized programs, including both in-person and online components. Our literacy programs also provide additional support by pairing students with tutors in the community. Our Literacy Instructor and volunteer tutors work with adult learners to develop core literacy skills required to progress through the HSE program.

Our ENL program is implemented in partnership with Goshen College. ENL classes are offered on-site at Goshen College at multiple skill levels, with supplemental support through the online program Burlington English. Adults progress through the program as they advance in their skills. The goal of the ENL program is to increase skills to the level needed to enroll in the HSE program and to pursue an industry-recognized credential or post-secondary degree.

HEA supported the launch of an Advanced Manufacturing Sector Partnership (AMSP) in 2017. One of the goals of the AMSP is to create a coordinated talent development system for manufacturing and provide infrastructure to meet training needs in a sustained and effective way. AMSP members identify shared needs, design, and implement a combined approach to training, and create solutions to serve students and adults through training programs. The original Elkhart County AMSP facilitated the launch of the CPT and CLT training programs countywide. We are currently working on the next phase of the AMSP, which is informed by the sector partnership model of Next Generation Sector Partnerships.