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CWIT TRAINING & EMPLOYMENT PARTNERSHIPS
TECHNICAL OPPORTUNITIES PROGRAM
 Established in 1987, the goals of the Technical Opportunities Program (TOP) are to create awareness and demand for access to nontraditional opportunities, provide women with the knowledge and skills to succeed, and support their entry and retention in these occupations.
- To combat the lack of awareness, CWIT conducts extensive targeted outreach to women through the media, a variety of community organizations and employment service providers, offers weekly information sessions, and hosts two orientation/career fairs annually.
- To address the need for preparation, the program offers a twelve-week training course twice annually. Serving women exclusively, the course provides women with comprehensive academic, physical and emotional preparation within the context of a supportive environment that builds confidence and personal strength as well as the basic skills needed to succeed.
- To improve access for women prepared to enter the trades, the program provides job placement assistance including career planning, resume development, job club/support group meetings, and referrals to apprenticeship programs, contractors and other nontraditional opportunities.
- To promote retention, the program follows-up with women regularly, encouraging them to maintain their connection to CWIT and providing mediation, counseling, support, and replacement assistance as needed.
- To replicate our model training program nationwide, we provide our curriculum guide In for a Change and technical assistance to organizations interested in helping women reach high wages.
Program Curriculum
Over the course of twelve weeks, the TOP classes meet two evenings per week from 6:00 to 9:30 p.m. and on Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The basic curriculum includes:
- Basic math (fractions, decimals, percentages, formulas)
- Test preparation (spatial relations, mechanical reasoning, and numerical reasoning)
- Physical conditioning (stretching, stamina, balance, aerobic, and weight-lifting exercises)
- Basic construction skills (safety, tool recognition and use, measuring, and blueprint reading
- Job readiness (interviewing, resume preparation, budgeting, sexual harassment prevention, and conflict resolution).
The students also receive hands-on experience, both in the CWIT workshop, where students construct a small house, and through field trips to apprenticeship programs such as the carpenters, electricians, pipefitters, bricklayers, laborers, and roofers. Led by experienced tradeswomen, the workshops provide opportunities to explore a variety of trades and build both skill and confidence in preparation for the job site.
TOP has an average acceptance rate of 70% into apprenticeship programs with many participants achieving high rankings. A TOP graduate became the first female to achieve the number one ranking of sheet metal apprenticeship applicants while two others ranked third and fourth. The program has produced similar results for women entering a range of apprenticeships including those of the electrical and bricklaying trades.
Women who have completed the program have gone on to become Carpenters, bricklayers, quality control inspectors, Elevator Mechanics, Laborers, Electricians, machine operators, and much more. With your assistance, we hope to improve TOP and supply you and other employers and apprenticeship programs with qualified, highly motivated workers.
To request a copy of our curriculum fill out our publications order form and send a $10.00 check to CWIT. Or click here to access a full list of publications.
Technical Opportunities Program Accomplishments
In fiscal year 2006 (July 2005-June 2006):
- 4,525 women received information about high-skill, high-wage nontraditional carers at 144 information sessions, orientations, and/or job fairs..
- 66 women enrolled in TOP, 43 of whom graduated
- 88 women were accepted into apprenticeship programs and/orientered nontraditional employment at an average wage of $14.18.
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