CLOUT

CLOUT is an employment - directed computer applications and office skills training program for underemployed, low - income individuals in Westchester County and New York City. The program began in 1991 when Westchester County Department of Social Services (DSS) approached Pace University about offering an education - for- employment program to AFDC recipients (Aid to Families with Dependent Children). Pace University's School of Computer Science and Information Systems proposed to offer an Associate in Science in Office Technology. In response to welfare reform laws and changes in Westchester County's education/training policy, CLOUT's main offering became a certificate in Personal Computer Applications for the Office Professional in 1995. Participants who were previously enrolled in the degree program were funded through their completion date.

 Also in 1995, CLOUT began to receive referrals for the certificate program from Westchester County Office of Employment and Training (OET). These referrals were made on an individual contract basis. Yonkers Private Industry Council (YPIC) has contracted with Pace University to make referrals to the certificate program. This organization provides contracts for participants on an individual basis.

Since the 1998 - 99 contract with DSS, Pace has been approved to continue offering the certificate program, as well as provide an opportunity for employed individuals who completed the certificate to enroll in the A.S. in Applied Information Technology (formerly Office Technology). This model was designed to further enhance the skills and qualifications of graduates and to provide a credential necessary for career advancement and stability.

After experiencing the success of the CLOUT programs in Westchester County for 7 years, CLOUT began exploring the possibility of replicating the program for New York City residents. A partnership was formed between United Neighborhood Houses (UNH) and Pace University. For the initial pilot group pf 22 students which began in November 1999, private funding was sought from various organizations and foundations. Awards ranged from 1,000 to 30,000; funding sources included United Way, Citibank, Chase Manhattan Foundation, Helena Rubinstein Foundation, Sumitomo Bank Foundation, Independence Community Foundation, and William T. Grant Foundation. Referrals to the not-for-credit training for employment program are made by UNH settlement houses. In 2000, a second group of TANF recipients was funded by a CASP 2 New York Works Block Grant. Pace and UNH worked closely with New York City Human Resources Administration (HRA) on the development and implementation of the second group.