ARKANSAS WORKS OVERVIEW.ppt

ARKANSAS WORKS: OVERVIEW Task Force on Poverty Arkansas Department of Career Education Little Rock, AR March 24, 2010 WHY ARKANSAS WORKS? Arkansas Needs an Education Cultural Change Increase Value Placed on Education Produce More Residents with Baccalaureate Degrees Increase Knowledge of All Postsecondary Options Better Understanding of College and Career Planning Become more competitive in the area of Economic Development nationally and internationally WHAT IS ARKANSAS WORKS? Expansion of the Arkansas College and Career Planning System Collaboration among state agencies Funded by Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Designed to assist Arkansas’ Youth and Adults Two Component System: On-Line Based Internet Planning Tool and College and Career Coaches ON-LINE BASED INTERNET PLANNING TOOL– POWERED BY KUDER Free and Open to all Arkansans through Public Sites Designed to Drive Youth and Adults to Services Enhancements: 6-Year Career Plan, Link 2 College and Connect to Business COLLEGE AND CAREER COACHES COMPONENT Three Year Pilot with Opportunity for Expansion 43 College and Career Coaches Co-located at 12 two-year Colleges and Provide Services to Middle/High School students in the 21 most economically challenged counties in the state Includes Career Development Facilitator (CDF) Training, which will be completed by April 16, 2010. WHERE ARE COLLEGE AND CAREER COACHES LOCATED? COUNTY SELECTION The 10 following factors were used: Median Household income 2007 Unemployment rate as of March 2009 Unemployment rate for region as of March 2009 All ages in poverty in 2007 Under 18 in poverty in 2007 Ages 5-17 in families in poverty Free and reduced price school lunch Bachelor’s degree or higher, percent of persons age 25+ High school graduates, percent of persons age 25+ Spring 2008 high school graduates entering college WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE COLLEGE AND CAREER COACH? Work as a team and complement existing College and Career plann