School at Work® (SAW) is a proven career development system for low-skilled incumbent workers in the healthcare industry. SAW serves as a bridge to college enrollment and job advancement. Public workforce systems in Atlanta, Chicago, Hartford, New Haven and St. Louis have put School at Work to work in their communities.

SAW Benefits to Workforce Investment Boards

Stimulates Economic Recovery

• Employees more likely to stay with employers who provide development opportunities
• SAW coursework prepares employees for entry into local certificate/degree programs, where higher wages are available to those moving into clinical and technical positions.

Strengthens Connections to Business

• Initiates or expands working relationships with key employers
• Builds likelihood of employers’ ongoing investment in entry-level staff

Leverages other WIB Investments

• Career planning done by hospital staff; in concert with WIB and local colleges
• Serves as a preparatory class for LPN-RN programs; a follow-up class for Nurse Aides or newly employed
  

“Due to the ever increasing demand for skilled healthcare workers, it makes good economic sense to invest in your own people.  SAW provides a great service to our community by providing hospitals with a tool to funnel existing talent through the pipeline.  This is a win for the employer, the employee, and ARC  as we move incumbent workers upward and open entry-level jobs to new workers to join the workforce.”

Mary Margaret Garrett
Chief, Workforce Development Division, Atlanta Regional Commission