News & Stories

San Diego Workforce Partnership, San Diego Futures Foundation, and the City of San Diego Team Up to Offer Career-Changing Courses for Digital Literacy.

New report reveals where jobs and career services are limited across San Diego County to target resources where families need them most.

The San Diego Workforce Partnership (SDWP) is partnering with the LAUNCH Apprenticeship Network and the Foundation for California Community Colleges. to develop a Behavioral Health Apprenticeship Network to expand SDWP’s ongoing efforts to increase access and grow the region’s behavioral health workforce. 

Many foster youth face unimaginable challenges and often feel alone. Domenico, a former foster youth, experienced many hardships but, with support from a caring home and the San Diego foster system, overcame them. He now aims to get an education and improve his future.

Most careers in social work generally require a graduate degree; however, economic and social barriers may impede some individuals from directly entering a master’s program. The substantial costs associated with graduate education and the burden of student debt can lead many to delay or reconsider their pursuit of advanced degrees, thereby resulting effectively prevented from entering the profession.

John, a 49-year-old from Ocean Beach who is reentering society after incarceration, is determined to build a sustainable life for himself. Through the Apprenticeship Readiness Program (ARP) training, he was able to start his journey toward his goal.

After serving over 16 years in prison, Bernard was released on parole and arrived in San Diego ready to start anew. He connected with the San Diego Workforce Partnership’s services and quickly engaged in the Peer Support Specialist program and Prison to Employment (P2E) services. With housing, career and emotional support, Bernard rebuilt his life with purpose. Today, he keeps giving back to his community, building on the transformation he started during his time in prison.

In an effort to address the growing demand for skilled energy, construction, and utilities (ECU) workers in Imperial and San Diego counties, the San Diego Workforce Partnership today announced the expansion of its successful ECU Apprenticeship Readiness Program (ARP) to Imperial County.

After two decades away from paid work to raise her children, Cat reclaimed her independence—and her career—through free training, resume workshops, and one-on-one career navigation offered by the San Diego Workforce Partnership. With support and encouragement, she is earning her Project Management Professional (PMP) certification from SDSU and stepping back into the workforce with clarity, skills, and confidence.

At just 15, United was sentenced to 50 years to life and spent two decades in a maximum-security prison before accessing therapy and rehabilitative programs at a lower-security facility. Through self-awareness and support from initiatives like the San Diego Workforce Partnership Reentry Services, he transformed his life. Now a case manager at Restoring Citizens, he helps others reintegrate after incarceration.