Suburban Cook County Receives $15 million For Job Training

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Cook County Board President, Toni Preckwinkle awarded a combined total of $15 million to service providers who will offer employment and training services to residents of South and West Suburban Cook County.
Cook County Board President, Toni Preckwinkle awarded a combined total of $15 million to service providers who will offer employment and training services to residents of South and West Suburban Cook County.

Under the newly named Cook County Works (CCW) program, Cook County Board president Toni Preckwinkle awarded a long list of community agencies a combined total of $15 million. The service providers will offer employment and training services to eligible youth and adult residents of South and West Suburban Cook County. The agencies were approved by the Cook County Workforce Investment Board based upon recommendations from CCW and following a competitive RFP (request for proposal) process.

CCW formally known as the Presidents Office of Employment and Training (POET), was recently reconstructed to refocus its mission of overseeing the provision of workforce services to South and West Suburban Cook County. Under the reform, CCW reduced its number of staff positions, freeing up resources for direct programming.

I am pleased to announce that these vital community groups and agencies will be assisting Cook County Works to provide important services which will assist our residents in finding gainful employment, said Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle in a released statement. Under the leadership of Karin Norington-Reaves, Cook County Works has revitalized its operations and is working towards a much more effective and efficient program. We look forward to partnering with these groups in the coming years.

In a mandatory orientation session at South Suburban College in South Holland, IL, CCW Director Karin Norington-Reaves, briefed all 2011 service providers of CCWs expectations and on its restructured goals and policies.

The services these groups are providing for Cook County residents will help to improve the quality of life and increase employment opportunities for our citizens. This funding is very significant to the health and economic development of our communities, Norington-Reaves said in a press release.

Twenty-seven agencies will participate in the CCW program, nine of which are new inductees. With training centers in Cicero and Maywood, IL, additional centers will be opened in Oak Forest and Chicago Heights, IL. Beginning Dec. 1, the county-operated One Stop Centers will provide a wide range of services.

One Stop Centers offer important job training services and programs to assist residents in the search for employment as well as help them to enhance existing job skills. The centers are a result of the United States Department of Labors Workforce Investment Act (WIA) of 1998. The Act was established to consolidate, coordinate, and improve employment, training, literacy, and vocational rehabilitation programs in the United States. It also provides the framework for a national workforce preparation and employment system designed to meet both the needs of the nations businesses and the needs of job seekers and those who want to further their careers.

For additional information, contact the Cook County Presidents office at 312-254-6211. The complete list of Cook County Works agencies are:

AERO Special Education Cooperative

Aunt Marthas Youth Service Center

Bethel Community Facility

Bloom High School, District 206

Calumet Area Industrial Commission

Career Advancement Network

Catholic Charities

Community Economic Development Association

Central States SER

Chicago Federation of Labor

Community Assistance Project

Employment & Employer Services

Erie Neighborhood House

Heartland Human Care Services

Institute del Progreso Latino

Jobs for Youth

LaGrange Department of Special Education

MAXIMUS

Microtrain

Moraine Valley Community College

National ABLE

Prairie State College

Safer Foundation

South Suburban College

Southland Healthcare

Triton College

Westside Health Authority

By: Abbra Stiffend

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