MCC partners with Catholic Charities to meet at-risk residents where they are

When Catholic Charities of Kansas City – St. Joseph received two grants to fund training and education for underserved and marginalized residents in our area, the social service agency turned to the MCC Institute for Workforce Innovation.

Catholic Charities has contracted with MCC to provide training to two distinct groups as outlined by the two grants:

1. For the Project RISE program, MCC will deliver technical training, academic support and soft skills training to underserved young adults, 18-24 years of age. The program was made possible by a federal grant from the Social Innovation Fund (SIF), with additional local support from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and United Way of Greater Kansas City. In exchange for developing and delivering the training and support services, MCC will receive $377,770 over the next 2.5 years. The Catholic Charities-MCC collaboration is one of six SIF collaborations of its kind across the nation.

2. With funding from an ex-offenders grant, Catholic Charities was able to contract with MCC to provide technical training, academic support and soft skills training for 250 ex-offenders. To support participants’ entry and advancement in meaningful careers, MCC will conduct Worldwide Interactive Network (WIN) assessments and deliver IWI programs that include bundled services. The IWI outreach team is currently working with Catholic Charities to iron out the details for course delivery, but programs will likely include CNA, photovoltaic, green maintenance technician and professional food preparation. Over the next 2 years, MCC will receive $700,000 to develop and deliver the programs and services.