Vocational Training is provided to our clients so that they may gain the necessary skills

GED, adult literacy, math instruction,
and employment assistance are offered.

The Learning Center offers high school credentialing (GED), adult literacy and math instruction as well as remedial help for students in our training programs. The strength of this program is that it has an open-entry/open-exit format and allows for individualized and often one-on-one instruction. The Learning Center provides instruction at Crossroads’ main location in Providence and at the Crossroads Apartments in North Kingstown.

The Nursing Assistant Training Program is an eight-week class taught by a registered nurse. The program features classroom academic instruction, hands on learning experience in a health care facility and CPR certification. After completing the program, students take the state licensing exam to become Certified Nursing Assistants.

A Family Literacy Program at the Crossroads’ Citizens Bank Family Center provides a variety of literacy development activities for parents and their children. The program’s intent is to raise skill levels of family members through targeted literacy and learning activities. The three main components of the program are:

Adult Education: Adult basic education, GED preparation, pre-employment/ job skills development, job readiness (resume writing, interviewing skills, job search.)

Parent Education: Parents choose from a variety of activities: working on communication skills with their children, behavior modification techniques, understanding child development issues, advocating for children with school personnel, basic assessment of children’s learning needs, promoting a culture of academic achievement at home.

Parent and Child Together Time (PACT): The Family Literacy Coach, with the assistance of Brown University and parent volunteers, offers families a variety of literacy development activities to do together. The program also provides enrichment activities, reading resources, games, and literacy focused field trips.

The Customer Service Program is a ten-week career-path program (six weeks of hands-on classroom training and a four-week internship). Students develop skills to gain entry-level employment in the field or industry sector they choose to pursue. The Copy Center at Crossroads collaborates with the Vocational Services by providing one of the internship options. Training areas include:

Introduction to Customer Service
Stress Management & Organizing Tasks
Decision Making & Problem Solving
Basic Computer & Office Skills
Communicating and Listening Skills
Resume and Interview Skills
Workplace Rules & Professional Language
Internship/Job placement assistance

Intensive Pre-Employment Program: Crossroads offers this program in four separate ten-week sessions during the year. The program goal is to help employable adults achieve academic and workplace skills required to access mainstream employment programs (like the One-Stop Career Centers at netWORKri), enter job training programs, and prepare for success in the workforce. Students benefit from supportive/collaborative case management between social services and vocational program staff. The program includes:

Life skills training
Goal setting and identifying the steps needed to achieve success
Decision making
Career counseling to help students identify their interests and talents
Workplace literacy, skills and values
Academic training (enhancing language, writing, math, and technical skills needed to succeed in job training and the workplace)
Job readiness—resumes, job applications, letters of inquiry, job interview protocol
Learning how to benefit from career advancement opportunities
Job development to increase employment opportunities for clients that are workplace/job-training ready

For students completing one of our training programs, work readiness services are provided. These services focus on resume and cover letter construction, interviewing skills, and workplace literacy. Students work one-on-one with a workforce development instructor as they embark on a job search.