Olivet Boys & Girls Club and Reading Area Community College are partnering to start a scholarship and workforce training program for club employees, officials announced.
The pilot program, Blue Door to RACC Scholarship Program, will start Wednesday.
The goal is to continue to strengthen the club’s ability to serve youth and families and build a workforce pipeline and the future career potential of Olivet members, officials said.
The program will be free to Olivet employees.
According to the state Office of Child Development/Early Learning, Berks County is considered to be of moderate/high risk as only an estimated 7,851 out of 24,336 children are served through early childhood education programs.
There is considerable need to move people working within the educational and social service sectors along a career pathway, starting at the Childhood Development Associate credential and eventually leading to the associate and baccalaureate degree levels, officials said.
In partnership with RACC, Olivet will create two cohorts of employees with 10 in each group who will work to earn that credential.
Training and coursework will focus on child development, classroom management, and programming and opportunities to learn and skills that teach academics and enrichment, officials said.
Funding for tuition, books and supplies will be provided through a grant obtained by RACC and Olivet through the Justamere Foundation.
“While many organizations and businesses struggle with hiring and high turnover rates, it is of utmost important to invest in our staff so they see a future with Olivet and can advance their professional careers,” said Olivet President and CEO Chris Winters. “We are thrilled to partner with Reading Area Community College for this innovative pilot program to meet the educational needs of our staff. This is a win-win for staff and the youth that we serve.”
“Elevating and vitalizing the youth and families of this community is deeply embedded in the mission of Reading Area Community College,” said Dr. Susan Looney, RACC president. “We are very proud to collaborate with Olivet Boys & Girls Club on an initiative that will continue to build educational and social service pathways to address this critical need.”
A chartered member of Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Olivet serves nearly 3,000 members a year at eight sites in Reading and Shillington.
Source: Berkshire mont
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