Education classes teach life skills so people can reach their full potential.
The purpose of the Education Program is to provide educational opportunities to Caritas of Austin clients to support their employment and education goals. The Education Program serves all clients in any of Caritas’ programs (housing, employment, refugee services, veterans). Sessions and individual goal projects are offered online and in-person at all Caritas sites. The Education Program also connects clients with external partners and agencies to support clients’ goals for furthering or enhancing their education, licensing, or credentials. This includes one-to-one assistance to clients to connect and apply to community agencies, community colleges, universities, or other formal and informal education programs. The Education Program also checks out laptops and hotspots to clients to ensure digital access and equity as they pursue their education goals.
Classes offered by the Education Program:
Life Skills: A series of classes that help clients develop life skills such as: Goal Setting, Establishing Boundaries, Strategies to Raise Self-Esteem, Tenant Education, Conflict Resolution, Interpersonal Skills, and many more.
Financial Literacy: An assortment of classes to help clients manage their finances, including Financial Planning, Savings, Building Credit, and others.
Health and Well-Being: A compilation of classes including topics such as: Eating Healthy, Choosing a Hobby that Works for You, and others.
Employment Workforce Training: A series of classes that build job skills such as: Introduction to the Hospitality Industry, Food Industry Education and Training, and Job Readiness Classes.
Individual Goal Projects: Provides individualized one-to-one support for clients who want to pursue other education opportunities; examples: enrollment in GED preparation, culinary preparation, warehouse training, online programs like Microsoft fundamentals, basic programming, or tech literacy, etc.
Internet Safety and Introduction to Technology: A series of classes to help clients learn internet safety and the basics of using computers and smartphones in everyday life.
Enrichment Classes: We collaborate with external partners to provide informational and hands-on classes for art, music, photography, gardening, exercise, health, nutrition, etc.
Orientation and Communication: Includes Refugee Cultural Orientation Series and English Language Conversation Practice
Collaborations with External Partners: The Education Program also works with external partners who provide informational sessions and services to our clients. The Education Program is currently collaborating with Austin Telco for financial literacy, Healthier Texas, BASTA, CapMetro, and the Austin Public Library.
Caritas of Austin classes are available to all clients at no cost.
For more information about Education Services at Caritas of Austin, please contact Cheryl Carter, Education Program Manager at CCarter@caritasofaustin.org.
Because of Caritas’ classes, I now know how to manage my money well.
Carlos
Supportive Housing client
