Just as we were preparing to deliver our 2020 Program for Fall classes and launching the Career My Way Summer Cohort 4, COVID-19- also known as the Coronavirus pandemic- brought us all into these extraordinary circumstances. Our Midtown office is closed, and like you, we’re finding new ways of existing and being. We’re still here, still committed to providing our community the opportunity to rebuild their lives through education and training.
Our mission has never been more important and together, we can help lift Houstonians out of poverty and into high-growth careers.
Currently, we’re aligning our service delivery plan to match those of our primary training institution, Houston Community College, and other local educational partners to ensure that we are making a continuous impact on affected communities.
Capital IDEA Houston will maintain access to services. We intend to accomplish this in the following ways:
- Our Staff has and will continue to completely transition to a virtual, online presence. This includes but is not limited to hosting Weekly VIP meetings, completing follow-ups and check-ins, registrations, keeping up with grades and attendance, and interacting with you through a variety of channels including email, text, zoom, social media.
- We’re aware that there will be technological needs, and we will work with our partners to address those needs for both our current and prospective participants.
- We’re upgrading our website so users will be able to complete onboarding easily online.
- We’re focusing our recruitment efforts online, and reaching out to local businesses that have downsized due to the current pandemic, assisting those in the community who have been laid off.
- All our Information Sessions will be hosted online. You’ll receive notifications when you share, like, and subscribe. As circumstances evolve, we’ll adjust our service delivery using best practices to provide multiple ways for you to enroll in and access our services.
- We’re creating processes for you to move seamlessly into your respective paths- either College Prep (which is preparing our students for academic coursework and passing the college entrance exam [TSI] or College classes at Local Community College. Our Career Navigators we will continue to help you navigate your way through any issue that may arise throughout the semester.
- And we’ll host online Graduate meetings, employability skills, and career services workshops, and continue to collaborate with Community Partners for financial coaching, and other services.
- We’ll also be reaching out to our Community Partners and Technical Assistance Support (JFF) for the Career My Way Program to explore bringing our services for Opportunity Youth and Young Adults online.
We’ve already started implementing this strategy and are excited to have it completed in full by May 16, 2020. We're looking forward to seeing you in one of our virtual information sessions. To register, click here.
