Creating Bridge Programming in
Outstate Minnesota
Carman Mills
Program Manger and Transitions Coordinator
SW ABE-Granite Falls Region
Sara Karbo
Job Counselor and FastTRAC Navigator
SW MN Private Industry Council

Bridge Program Definition
What is it?
Prepares adults with limited academic or limited English skills to enter and succeed in post-secondary education and training leading to career-path employment.

Bridge Program Goal
What is it?
Bridge the gap between the initial
skills of individuals and what they
need to enter and succeed in postsecondary education and career path employment.

Starting Point
1. Create Partnerships
A. ABE
B. MnSCU
C. Workforce Council
D. Community Based Organizations
E. Employers
2. Choose a Career Pathway
A. Healthcare
B. Manufacturing
C. Customer Service
D. Any High Demand Career Area that is pertinent to the region

Starting Point
3. Develop Core Elements
A. Contextualized Instruction
1. Reading
2. Math
3. Language Skills
4. Industry/Occupation Knowledge
B. Career Development
1. Career Exploration
2. Career Planning within a Career Area
3. Understand the World of Work
C. Transition Services
1. Student Services
2. Support Services
3. Financial Services

Starting Point
4. Determine Program Eligibility
A. Reading and Math Levels ?
B. English Language Proficiency Levels
?
C. GED/Adult Diploma ?
D. Incumbent Worker ?
5. Determine Program Options
A. Single Course
B. Series of Courses
1. Contain Knowledge and Skills
Common for Entry-Level
Occupations within a Broad
Cluster
2. Sufficient Duration and
Intensity to Produce Transition
Results

Starting Point
6. Determine Outcomes
A. Short-Term
B. Long-Term
C. Student Evaluations
D. Program Evaluations
7. Determine Roles
A. ABE
B. MnSCU
C. Workforce Counselor
D. Employer
F. Outside Providers

Bridge Program Advantages
• Contextualized Academic Instruction
• Delivered in an Accelerated Format
• Higher Levels of Staff Support with
Students
*Navigator

SW ABE Consortium
4 Regions
• Granite Falls
• Marshall
• Worthington
• Jackson
Minnesota West
• Granite Falls
• Canby
• Jackson
• Pipestone
• Worthington
SW MN Private Industry Council
• Montevideo
• Marshall
• Worthington

Career Pathways

SW ABE Bridge Program - 2011
• Program Eligibility
– CASAS
• Reading and Math
• Score 230 or better on both tests
– Unemployed or Underemployed
– High School Diploma or GED
• Can be working towards completion

SW ABE Bridge Program - 2011
• Program Components
– Computer Skills
– Math Skills
– Soft Skills
– Career Defining Skills

• Assessment
• MIRC
• Tutorials
• Individualized

• Addition
• Subtraction
• Multiplication
• Division
• Fractions
• Percents
• Time
• Metric System
• Ration
• Proportion
• Measurements
• Ohm’s Law (IM)

• Skills
– Technical Skills
– Soft Skills
• Determination / Hard
Work
– Goal Setting
– Above and Beyond
– Visioning
• Reliability
– Overcome Distractions
– Be Accountable
– 100% Affect
• Experience
– Look for Good Opportunities
– Always be Prepared
– Know your Value/Worth
• Habits
– Strengths/Weaknesses
– Overcoming Potential
Roadblocks

• Career Exploration
• Post-secondary Exploration
• College Experience
– Mindquest
• Career and Post-secondary Assessments
• Resume Writing
• Interviewing Skills

• Math Skills Appropriate
• Age of Student Depends on Computer Skills
• More Rigorous
• More College Preparation
• Experience of Students Determines Skills
Taught
• Deliverables Could be Held at Many Locations
• Need Specific Outcomes

SW ABE Bridge Program 1 - 2012
• Eligibility for Bridge Program
– CASAS Reading and Math – 221 - 230
• Eligibility for Integrated Program
– CASAS Reading and Math – 230 or better
• Computer Skills
– Score 80% or better on Computer Assessment www.digitalliteracyassessment.org
– Score 79% or lower, computer skills training

www.digitalliteracyassessment.org

www.digitalliteracyassessment.org

SW ABE Bridge Program 1 - 2012
• Learner Web
– Medical Office Preparation
– Complete 80% of plans with 80% passing on all assignments/tests
• Provide Additional Instruction for Students
Needing a GED
• Provide Additional Instruction for Students
Needing Reading and Math Skills Brush-up

SW ABE Bridge Program 2 - 2012
• Math Skills for Healthcare Employees
• Mindquest
– D2L Experience
– LASSI (Learning and Study Strategies Inventory)
– Accuplacer – if CASAS Reading at 236 or better
– My Foundations Lab
• Serve Safe Preparation
– Read Book
– Review Vocabulary

SW ABE Bridge Program 2 - 2012
• Learner Web
– Prepare to be a CNA
– Integrated Medical
Terminology
• Classroom Setting
• Lab Setting
• Individual Setting
• Soft Skills
– Skills
– Hard Work
– Reliability
– Experience
– Habits/Personal
Attributes
– Communication
– Team Building
– Problem Solving

SW ABE Bridge Program 2 - 2012
• Career and Post-
Secondary Exploration
– Resume Writing
– Job Search
– Interviewing Skills
– Admissions Process
– Financial Aid
Information/FAFSA
– Healthcare Programs
• Support Services
– Gas Vouchers
– SNAP Referral
– Budgeting

SW ABE Bridge Program 2 - 2012
Student Outcomes
• Assess learning style with LASSI diagnostic tool
• Learn to navigate the Desire2Learn system
• Familiarize themselves with job skills needed to be a nursing assistant
• Learn basic medical terminology

SW ABE Bridge Program 2 - 2012
Student Outcomes
• Learn math skills pertinent to employment in the healthcare industry
• Create a resume for minnesotaworks.net and potential employers
• Create personal and employment goals

SW ABE Bridge Program 2 - 2012
Program Outcomes
• 80% Success/Completion Rate
• CASAS Level Change
• Move 15 students into Universal Healthcare
Worker class
• Prepare students for independent study

What Type of Bridge Fits Your
Program?

Questions?
Thank you for participating! 
Carman Mills
Program Manager & Transitions Coordinator
SW ABE – Granite Falls Region & SW Regional Transitions Area carman.mills@gmail.com
320-269-9297, ext. 116
Sara Karbo
Job Counselor & FastTRAC Navigator
SW MN Private Industry Council skarbo@swmnpic.org
507-537-6236