WACO’s RSAT Program Participants Honored for Completion of OFTC’s IWF Course
Oconee Fall Line Technical College (OFTC) participated in a ceremony honoring a group of inmates participating in the Washington County Jail’s Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT) Program for their completion of the college’s Industrial Workplace Fundamentals (IWF) course, Monday, November 1.
The six-month program focuses on recovery, rehabilitation, re-education and re-entry, and participants recently completed a two-week IWF course offered through the College’s Economic Development department which offered training in maintaining a positive attitude in the workplace, professional work ethics, workplace communication and dealing with difficult people, and certifications in OSHA 10, Medic First Aid, Basic Computing and Windows 10, Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, WorkKeys Essentials, and Forklift Safety.
“This group has gained credentials in a variety of areas that should make them attractive candidates for employment for many local industries or businesses,” shared Kim David, OFTC’s Vice President for Economic Development.
“These credentials should be viewed as desirable additions to their resumes by prospective employers and will allow them to begin work with knowledge and training that won’t have to be provided by employers during their first few weeks or months.”
Not only did the college provide training to give participants transferable credentials which should aid in employment upon their release from jail, they also offered participants the opportunity to further their education through obtaining a high school equivalency diploma or strengthen basic skills through adult education.
“Having a high school equivalency diploma will open more opportunities for these students to gain employment or go further in their education,” shared Demme McManus, OFTC’s Dean of Adult Education. “Part of the RSAT program’s goal is to help participants re-enter society, so having the opportunity to come along beside them and give them the tools needed to succeed in the workforce or in furthering their education is exactly what we’re about in adult education at OFTC.”
“These guys being able to get exposure to Oconee Fall Line during their time here is a definite blessing,” added Major Corey King, E911/Jail Division Commander for the Washington County Sheriff’s Office. These guys have a renewed since sense of self-worth having completed this series of programs. I have seen a tremendous change in them over the course of the program and the pride they showed when getting their certificates makes this journey worth it. I am extremely proud of their completion of the program and even prouder of the way they feel about themselves after completing.”
For more info on OFTC’s Adult Education program, the IWF program, or the 130+ programs available, visit the college’s website, OFTC.edu.
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