Technology literacy is increasingly essential for success in the workplace and the economy, and yet significant numbers of people have neither access to technology nor the training to use it. This effectively limits their employment and earnings potential-over 60% of all jobs now require technology skills. Increasing income leads to increased health status. Offering communities access to technology, and experience in how to use it productively, is seen as a health improvement strategy. Community-based technology centers are a powerful resource to accomplish this in ways that are sensitive to cultural and socio-economic needs of neighborhood residents.
Computers in Our Future (CIOF) is a four-year, $6 million program funded by The California Wellness Foundation. CIOF is designed to explore and demonstrate ways in which community technology centers (CTCs) can help young people and adults in low-income communities use technology to improve their educational and employment opportunities, thereby improving their health and well-being and that of their families and communities. Community Partners, The Children's Partnership, and CompuMentor work in partnership to coordinate the CIOF program, comprised of eleven community-based organizations and schools in low-income California communities.
CIOF seeks to demonstrate to employers, policy makers and the public that investing funds and political support toward technology access and training programs in underserved communities has measurable dividends for both the workplace and society. This portion of the panel will be used to describe the program model, key findings, challenges and lessons learned as CIOF works towards its goal of reaching over 25,000 Californians.
Learning Objectives: 1. Present current findings on the digital divide and who is getting left behind the technology revolution. 2. Describe the Computers In Our Future (CIOF) program and its approach to demonstrating how community technology centers can help young people and adults in low-income communities use technology to improve their educational and employment opportunities, thereby improving their health and well-being and that of their families and communities. 3. Present key findings, challenges, and lessons learned
Keywords: Community Programs, Technology
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: This session is based upon the Computers In Our Future program funded by The California Wellness Foundation
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: Project Director for Computers In Our Future Program, funded by The California Wellness Foundation