03/17/23
Gadsden State Skills Training Division grant recipient
Gadsden, Ala. – The Alabama Department of Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention joined local and state leaders to present a check in the amount of $1,521,900 to local grantee organizations in Alabama’s Fourth Congressional District. The Skills Training Division at Gadsden State Community College was one of those grant recipients.
“Gadsden State’s Skills Training Division is proud to partner with the Children’s Trust Fund to offer programs funded through the Strengthening Families through Workforce Development Fatherhood Initiative grant and the Empowering Families Scholarship,” said Baisha Woody, director of Skills Training.
The Department of Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention, also known as the Children’s Trust Fund, provides annual funding to programs across the state dedicated to the prevention of child abuse and neglect.
The Fatherhood Initiative provides opportunities to families with custodial and non-custodial fathers and mothers. Activities include training, workshops, conferences and counseling to encourage and facilitate active parenting by non-custodial parents. The programs focus on increased parental involvement in children’s lives, providing employment training, job skills and certifications that will allow them to secure employment to provide for themselves and their family.
The Empowering Families Scholarship provides funding for eligible parents to participate in Skills Training programs. Participants are required to meet criteria established by the grant and program.
“Gadsden State, in partnership with Children’s Trust Fund, is appreciative of being one of several organizations receiving the grant to strengthen families through its Fatherhood program and Empowering Families scholarship,” said Alan Smith, dean of Workforce Development at Gadsden State. “In addition to these two opportunities, our Skills Training Division offers short-term, non-credit training through the Skills Training Center by providing a hands-on approach to give anyone the experience they need to be valuable employees.”
The Skills Training Division offers programs that can upgrade skills to develop better-trained employees. Programs include Nursing Assistant, Phlebotomy, Medication Assistant, Office Careers, Truck Driving and Welding.
“The Skills Training Division is a good resource for entry-level hiring needs of local business and industry,” Woody said.
For more information on the various programs offered through Gadsden State’s Skills Training Division contact Woody at bwoody@gadsdenstate.edu or visit www.gadsdenstate.edu/skills-training.
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Other local organizations that were recipients with Gadsden State include Family Success Center of Etowah County, Gadsden City Schools and United Way's Success By 6. Woody and Smith were in attendance representing Gadsden State at the District 4 check presentation Feb. 28 at Shepherds Cove Hospice in Albertville.