Inaugural New York Cohort of Skilling America® Certification Training Launches Today

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                             

CONTACT: Dana Marciniak, 716-935-7839

Albany, NY (February 14, 2022) NYATEP is proud to announce New York’s inaugural Skilling America Certification cohort. Upon completion, this elite group will be nationally recognized as certified Skilling America Navigators. 

Investing in New York’s workforce system’s frontline staff by providing new skills and resources is essential as the State continues to struggle from the catastrophic labor market effects of the COVID 19 pandemic. As of December 2021, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics ranked New York State 48th in the nation in unemployment with the New York State Department of Labor reporting a 6.2% statewide unemployment rate and an alarming 8.8% unemployment rate in New York City. Job seekers need support in getting back to work, employers need workers and essential career center staff need to be ready. 

This pilot program, which is a partnership between Skilling America and NYATEP, has selected 27 workforce professionals from across the State to engage in competency-based training focused on Career Coaching, Analysis, Leadership, and Partnerships. The program begins on Monday, February 14th and will conclude in May 2022.  In addition to the rigorous coursework, participants will collaborate through monthly learning community meetings, and utilize NYATEP’s Level Up learning portal.

“We are excited for NYATEP to bring Skilling America to the state of New York. The Skilling America professional development and certification program is an excellent way to provide NYATEP members with the opportunity to strengthen their skills and learn how to uniformly provide guidance and direction so that they can deliver the best support to the people they work with,” remarked Ali Stachura, Program Manager, Skilling America.

“As we embark on economic recovery, New York’s workforce professionals need access to  national best-in-class training tools, “ remarked Melinda Mack, NYATEP’s Executive Director. “Skilling America has developed a robust program that, coupled with NYATEP’s New York-based knowledge, will ensure professionals know how to engage, train and support New Yorkers and employers from every corner of the State.” 

After certification, this elite group of Skilling America Navigators will join a large national community including counterparts in Texas, Ohio, Kentucky and Iowa. Following the success of this pilot, NYATEP plans to formally roll out the program to train hundreds of workforce professionals in the next decade.

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ABOUT NYATEP

Launched in the late 1970s, NYATEP was founded by a small group of professionals dedicated to collaborating to increase the effectiveness of federally funded workforce programs. In the last 40 years, the organization has grown to be New York’s statewide workforce development association. Our members help more than a million New Yorkers achieve good or better jobs through job training, education, economic and workforce development. NYATEP is a membership based, 501c3 non-profit, intermediary that provides leadership, vision, and advocacy for a thriving workforce development network across New York State. www.nyatep.org

ABOUT HOPE STREET GROUP

Hope Street Group is revolutionizing our country’s approach to education, training, hiring and career advancement, and in doing so we are strengthening economic opportunity for every individual.

Through our work to build local, regional, and national networks in the key industry sectors that make up approximately one-third of the nation’s workforce, we are better aligning the communication and collaboration between companies, education and workers on the skills and competencies needed for success in today’s job market. Our unique programs provide leadership training and tools to critical change agents across the country, enabling a sustainable and regional approach to solutions that impact education to employment. www.hopestreetgroup.org