Between 2011 and 2014, the UHCCs received fifty million dollars in four rounds of federal Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training (TAACCCT) grant funds through the U.S. Department of Labor.  The grants focus on all aspects of job creation — including new workforce training program development, existing program enhancement, and job placement. For the past two years, UHPA Vice President Sally Pestana has been the grant coordinator for the first round of funds received by Kapiolani CC.

One part of the KapCC grant outcomes was the creation of the iCAN program (Individualized Career Achievement Network).  The iCAN Career Skills course is a 130 hour course designed to help participants prepare for a job training program at a University of Hawai’i Community College or entry-level employment.  The course focuses on upgrading the reading, writing, and math levels for students who never thought college was an option for them.  In addition, Sally developed a 30 hour iCAN Health Care Foundations course this semester. This course focuses on medical terminology, ethics, safety, and communication skills needed for entry level employment in the state’s health care sector.

Sally was instrumental in expanding the iCAN program to off campus venues such as the Oahu Work Links (OWL) office and McKinley Community School for Adults.  She is quick to give credit to a fabulous team of instructors and counselors she coordinates who deliver the program.  You will have a better feel for the iCAN program through two short videos highlighting the great work this program is doing for our state — one person at a time!

Read more: Non-traditional students discover they can with iCAN

Non-traditional students discover they can with iCAN from University of Hawai’i System on Vimeo.