- ACT preparatory course builds confidence of Hmong students planning to take their college entrance exams
Students of Hmong descent who completed an ACT preparation course at UW-Marathon County say the class helped them feel more confident about taking their college entrance examinations. Those with the lowest English and reading scores on simulated tests at the onset of the class were often able to improve their scores significantly on course post-tests. The 18 students who subsequently reported taking the ACT in April 2004 performed better on average than their Hmong peers who received no ACT training.
- English-language training prepares international professionals and students for success in a multicultural world
Professionals and undergraduates who attended UW-Eau Claire Continuing Education's summer Intensive English Program learned English skills and experienced American life, resulting in cross-cultural exchange and understanding. Participants reported that the program improved their English, would have a positive influence on their careers, families and communities, helped them develop a more positive attitude about the United States, and helped them gain a new appreciation and understanding of themselves and the American people and culture.
- Partnership training helps social workers provide services for the developmentally disabled in northern Wisconsin
Developmentally disabled adults integrated into the community and their families rely on knowledgeable case workers who are well versed in up-to-date information to help them successfully live more independently. In the past few years, the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Continuing Education Community-Based Service Training Partnership (CBSTP) for Adults program has provided more than 1,300 professionals with updated knowledge on current research and practice. The trainings improve the case workers' job performance and consequently benefit the clients they serve. And, because participants follow up with peer training, programs reach beyond the participants and add to the knowledge base of other professionals.
- Social workers in northeastern Wisconsin meet certification requirements while learning how to better support their clients
A 1999 change in certification policy created a need for increased professional development opportunities for Wisconsin social workers. Since then, a workshop series in northeastern Wisconsin that was designed to fulfill this new demand has logged more than 5000 enrollments. Social workers who attended one recent workshop on women and alcohol say the program not only met their training requirements but also helped them to support their clients. The ongoing series is a collaborative effort between the social work and outreach departments at the UW-Oshkosh and the UW-Green Bay.
- West Central Wisconsin Synergy program positions region for sustainable economic growth
Participants in the West Central Wisconsin Synergy Conference left the 2005 event with concrete action items—and some valuable new associates—to help address some common local concerns that often accompany rapid economic development. They are collectively committed to promoting sustainable growth, which is the belief that the quality of people''s lives and of their communities are shaped by a combination of social, economic, and environmental forces. Since 2003, representatives from nine counties in the St. Croix and Chippewa Valleys have attended the event.
