FALL 1998
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In this issue
General Motors, Mayo, 3M offer ISU degrees Computer literacy class helps at-risk teens succeed Extension curriculum helps workers succeed In Calhoun County __________ |
Extension curriculum helps workers succeed There's a workforce center in Spencer, an office building housing government agencies whose goals and client base overlap. It's a place where people receive help and training towards reaching self-sufficiency. Promise Jobs is one of the programs that overlaps a couple of those offices and connects these people to Iowa State University Extension.
Promise Jobs participants are welfare recipients referred to the program by Department of Human Services personnel. They come to the Spencer office from Kossuth, Emmet, Clay, O'Brien, Dickinson and Palo Alto counties. When Debbie Schloss trains them in life skills, she is using "Building Resourceful Families," ISU Extension's package of workbooks, resources and training. "There were several reasons we purchased the life skills curriculum from ISU Extension," said Schloss, Promise Jobs life skills coordinator for Iowa Workforce Development. "There is a workbook that can be used to teach living skills and Extension has a wealth of support materials on related topics like parenting, money management and nutrition. "Having Extension support staff nearby was another selling point for the curriculum," Schloss said. "We also felt it was important that the material be gender neutral and this curriculum is." The Spencer area was one of six in the state to purchase the 10-unit curriculum and training package. Schloss and colleagues were trained during the summer of 1997. Extension family life field specialist Rhonda Rosenboom, nutrition and health field specialist Denise Wyland and family resource management field specialist Mary Stoecker guided the future life skills trainers through the course of instruction. Working through the workbooks and taking part in the corresponding activities were supplemented with additional background and support from the extension specialists. Anne Scott, a Promise Jobs supervisor with Northwest Iowa Planning and Development Commission, was one of those trained during the sessions. "We really appreciated the trainers' flexibility when it came to scheduling meeting times. They were very willing to schedule around our varied work schedules and have been very receptive to our feedback," Scott said. Scott reported that there have been some overwhelming and exciting success stories from her area as a result of using life skills training. "Promise Jobs participants come to us from all levels of academia with all levels of abilities," Scott said. "There is no rhyme nor reason to help determine who will struggle and who will succeed. We need to be able to give individuals the support, skills and information that they need to develop good worker/work site relationships. We feel like we can do that with the Extension life skills material. "At the time of the training, we felt the material was
very manageable and the activities nicely varied," she said.
"As we have used it with our clients, we are finding the
material, especially some of the supplemental material, is
difficult for clients to understand." Schloss concurred with
Scott's comments and added that ISU Extension has been very
willing to make necessary changes to the curriculum.
Extension specialist Jim Meek gives overall guidance to the
curriculum. He said that a second unit is being developed in
response to suggestions made by people who used the
curriculum this first year. In the process, some rewriting
also will take place. |
