| Posted
7-2-08
Dads Making a Difference to Graduate
CHEYENNE (WY Dept of Workforce Services) -- The Wyoming Department of Workforce Services will honor its first Dads Making a Difference graduating class with a ceremony on July 9th at 6 p.m. in the Cheyenne-Kiwanis Community House in Lion's Park.
Dads Making a Difference began its 14-week program in March and will graduate eight students from Laramie County Community College's Integrated Systems Training Center. Although graduating from the program, Howard said there are plans to help graduates by implementing an alumni component to assist graduates as they move out into the workforce and continue their journey as parents.
Tammy Howard, case manager for the program, said, "There aren't a lot of programs out there for dads. This is one of the only ones."
The program teaches integrated systems technology, one of the newest high-demand career opportunities in American industry. The are nine different areas of training in the program, including electrical, electrical motor control, hydraulics, pneumatics, mechanical systems, basic power distribution, industrial piping, programmable logic controls and HVAC systems.
"They [the program participants] get an introduction to all of those -- then they get to choose their focus," Howard added.
Most graduates of the program have already found work, including installing energy-generating wind turbines with Wanzek Wind and implementing heating and cooling systems with Advanced Air. The range of pay for these jobs starts at $12 to $17 an hour.
There are also plans to implement a mentoring component to the program in the next 14-week session that will start in September. "The mentoring program is going to be retired professionals coming in to mentor the guys on job skills and life skills," Howard said.
To qualify for the program applicants must be a custodial or noncustodial parent, 18 years of age or older, below federal poverty guidelines, able to commit to a comprehensive training program, interested in contributing more to their child's welfare and drug free.
The program is built to help empower either custodial or non-custodial dads by providing them with job training and placement so they can better support their offspring. Dads Making a Difference also teaches life skills for success at work and in relationships as well as providing parent training opportunities and counseling for additional support.
For more information about the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services or to get involved with DADS Making a Difference visit www.wyomingworkforce.org/dads or call 777-3700.
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