Riverside County Awarded $2.25 Million for Student Training
January 8, 2024
In November, Riverside County Workforce Development Division (WDD) was selected for the Student Training and Employment Program (STEP). RCWDD was awarded $750,000 per year for a 3-year grant totaling $2,250,000.
The program will work with 150 students with disabilities ages 16-21 to provide educational training and employment opportunities and is designed to be a collaborative partnership with the Department of Rehabilitation (DOR), YOCs, and the Foundation of California Community Colleges.
STEP aims to furnish students with disabilities with essential job preparation, including job exploration, workplace readiness skills, and meaningful work-based learning experiences, along with summer work opportunities. Our steadfast commitment to fostering partnerships remains a cornerstone of the Sustainable EmployAbility program, building upon the success of the current STEPS initiative that HWS/WDD has had in place since 2020.
The anticipated outcome extends beyond providing employment/training; it is about cultivating enduring skills for our youth to thrive after they are no longer part of the program. HWS/WDD, through its associated partners, is dedicated to empowering Students with Disabilities and equipping them with tools for sustained adulthood employment. Additionally, delivering services, training, and employment opportunities to participants during their adolescent stage will generate a broader impact, extending beyond the workforce to influence their education, social interactions, and personal development.
