Federal grant for displaced workers
WASHINGTON, D.C. – A federal grant of $1 million has been awarded to assist the 170 people who lost their jobs as a result of layoffs at Lifespan Health Care Services, the Visiting Nurse Service of Greater Woonsocket and Alternative Care Medical of Rhode Island. The grant, announced earlier this month, was authorized under Title III of the Job Training Partnership Act and will provide services including career counseling, academic testing, occupational skills training and supportive services to help dislocated workers get back into the workforce. “This grant comes at a time of critical importance for the state of home health care in Rhode Island,” said U.S. Sen. Jack Reed, who pushed for the grant. “While we are working to rectify the situation of agency closings and cutbacks, health care workers are finding a difficult atmosphere in which to regain employment.”
Training available for entrepreneurs
PROVIDENCE – The Providence Civic Entrepreneur Initiative is looking for people to participate on the 1999-2000 team of Civic Entrepreneurs, an initiative aimed at increasing the capacity of emerging leaders to help create change in communities and neighborhoods of Providence. Twenty individuals will be selected to take part in the program, which will include local training and projects, including two training conferences featuring Civic Entrepreneurs.
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The program is looking for people who live or work in Providence and are interested in developing leadership skills, learning more about the city and improving community development in Providence. Anyone interested in applying to become a Civic Entrepreneur should contact Michael Simon at 455-8880 or msimon@providenceplan.org.
Bay State encourages college savings plan
BOSTON – Massachusetts Governor Paul Cellucci and Treasurer Shannon O’Brien announced last week that the 1999 enrollment period for the U. Plan College Savings Program began on May 1 and will continue through May 30. The U. Plan is the state’s nationally recognized prepaid tuition savings program that allows families to lock in current tuition rates at 83 colleges and universities throughout Massachusetts. Available exclusively through Fleet Bank, the U. Plan is sponsored by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. To participate in the U. Plan, parents or other sponsoring investors can make either a lump sum investment or establish a monthly installment payment plan. Enrollment kits and information about the program are available at all Fleet Bank branch offices of by calling (800) 449-MEFA ext. 6332.
Information Works! Web site unveiled
WEST WARWICK – Commissioner of Education Peter McWalters joined last Monday with policy makers, educators, parents and students at West Warwick High School to unveil the updated web site, www.infoworks.ride.uri.edu, which contains a wealth of information about Rhode Island’s public schools and school districts. This marks the second year that the Department of Education has partnered with the University of Rhode Island’s National Center on Public Education to produce the school reports that comprise Information Works! Measuring Rhode Island Schools for Change.
Welfare recipients testify
PROVIDENCE – Members of Rhode Island Parents for Progress testified last Tuesday in support of the “Clothing Bill,” now pending at the legislature. The bill would entitle parents who receive welfare to use a $200 clothing allowance when participating in training, education and employment programs. Parents for Progress, according to a statement released by the group, has persistently advocated for such support since learning of constituents who have been unable to complete training programs because of the cost of uniforms and equipment. For example, according to Parents for Progress, the approximate cost of clothing and equipment to complete a certified nursing assistant program is $350.
Sprint PCS connects teachers, parents
PROVIDENCE – Feinstein High School for Public Service and Sprint PCS have given teachers and staff a powerful weapon – digital wireless telephones. The school is one of five in New England participating in the Sprint PCS Education Connection program, in which the company donates wireless telephones and gives the school free service for two years. The idea is to increase communication and make it easier for teachers and parents to stay in touch. After the first year, 100 percent of the participating Feinstein High School teachers and staff said student behavior had improved and almost 80 percent said the learning environment had also improved, according to Sprint. In New England, the Sprint PCS Education Connection has donated more than 125 wireless telephones and free service to five schools in Boston, Cambridge, Manchester, Portland and Providence.
