MassEdCO hosted the first-ever US-based BOUNCE program in October 2014. A Workforce Central (WFC) Career Center pilot program, BOUNCE originated in Maryborough, Victoria, Australia. The program provides a well-defined yet non-traditional, dynamic approach to motivating people to make real and lasting changes in their lives.
Officially licensed through the BOUNCE Consulting Group, WFC Career Center BOUNCE trainers Cheryl Kelly and Roy Lucas provided the specialized two-week training to 18 unemployed adults who were chosen at the Career Center based on very specific criteria. The 18 participants showed the desire and motivation to examine and take part in activities designed to prepare them for “next steps” in their career search. These included self examination, reflection, values exploration, skills evaluation and making choices to investigate education and re-training.
“Because of the long history of collaboration between The Career Center and MassEdCO’s Educational Opportunity Center (EOC), it made sense for us to host this innovative and ground-breaking program for this group, some of whom could also benefit from our EOC services,” said Marsha Forhan, MassEdCo’s director of adult programming and career pathways.
The WFC Career Center will offer another BOUNCE training program in 2015.