Partners in Progress: Shaping the Future of Work
The Institute for Workplace Skills and Innovation America (IWSI America)
IWSI America collaborates with governments, non-profits, and enterprising businesses to address dynamic workforce needs. IWSI America's initiatives include programs and partnerships that lead to meaningful and sustainable workplace impact for communities, countries, and companies worldwide.
The California Department of Rehabilitation (DOR)
DOR works in partnership with consumers and other stakeholders to provide services and advocacy resulting in employment, independent living, and equality for individuals with disabilities. DOR administers the largest vocational rehabilitation and independent living programs in the country. Vocational rehabilitation services are designed to help job seekers with disabilities obtain competitive employment in integrated work settings. Independent living services may include peer support, skill development, systems advocacy, referrals, assistive technology services, transition services, housing assistance, and personal assistance services.
American Institute for Innovative Apprenticeships
The United States has a long history of apprenticeship training in the skilled trades like construction, plumbing, electrical and automotiveled by labor organizations, these programs partner apprentices with skilled mentors and provide educational opportunities in state-of-the art learning facilities to prepare workers for high-paying jobs. More recently, apprenticeship has expanded into new fields, including many once thought to require a college degree, such as IT, healthcare, energy, business, advanced manufacturing, culinary arts, customer service, hotel and restaurant management and sales.
American Apprenticeship Network
Despite the beneficial attributes of the apprenticeship model being recognized worldwide, the awareness, availability and enrolments for apprenticeship in United States is significantly lower than in other first-world economies.A key factor in this lack of awareness is the absence of a focused national industry or advocacy body to advance the benefits of apprenticeship to the public and employers, to speak to the implications of policy announcements, and to advocate the interests of stakeholders. As the United States continues to experiences economy-wide labor shortages, we believe now is the time to reassert the virtues and benefits of apprenticeship.
Ready, Willing and Able represents a new approach to creating long-term employment opportunities for Californians with disabilities, leveraging the unique features of the registered apprenticeship model, to enable Californians with disabilities to prepare for, start and maintain ongoing employment. The program began with a two-year pilot in Orange County, supporting 100 Californians to start ongoing employment as a registered apprentice in the allied healthcare sector, through partnerships with local halthcare, disability support service providers, government, industry and civic groups.
Apprenticeships for America (AFA)
Through a combination of policy analysis, advocacy, and the creation of a national network of apprenticeship sponsors and advocates, AFA helps unleash the potential of registered apprenticeships to substantially widen access to rewarding careers and benefit millions of American workers. Although federal funding for apprenticeships increased in recent years, available funding falls short of what is required to build a robust registered apprenticeship system and what other developed countries are investing in apprenticeships.
At Career Launchpad, we are privileged to collaborate with esteemed partners who bring unparalleled skills, knowledge, and experience to our initiatives. Each partner plays a crucial role in shaping a future where apprenticeships are a cornerstone of career development across various industries.
Our collaboration with the Institute for Workplace Skills and Innovation America (IWSI America) taps into their extensive experience in working alongside governments, nonprofits, and businesses to adapt to the evolving workforce needs, creating sustainable impacts worldwide. The California Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) is integral to our mission, providing expert services and advocacy that empower individuals with disabilities to achieve employment and independence, thereby enhancing our commitment to inclusivity and equal opportunities in the workforce.
Through the American Institute for Innovative Apprenticeships, we draw on a rich heritage of skilled trades apprenticeships, now extending into sectors traditionally dominated by academic pathways, such as IT and healthcare. This diversification allows us to offer more comprehensive training solutions. The American Apprenticeship Network helps amplify our efforts to elevate the apprenticeship model’s profile, advocating for increased awareness and adoption that matches global standards, ensuring that more Americans can access these transformative opportunities.
Ready, Willing and Able exemplifies innovation in creating employment paths for Californians with disabilities using the registered apprenticeship model, demonstrating the adaptability and potential of apprenticeships to meet diverse needs. Finally, Apprenticeships for America (AFA) bolsters our network by advocating for policies and resources that expand apprenticeship accessibility, aiming to match and exceed international investment in this proven model.
Together, these partnerships form the backbone of Career Launchpad, each contributing unique insights and resources that enable us to build a resilient and inclusive workforce for the future.