If you are a member of the media and are interested in learning more about Arapahoe/Douglas Works! or arranging a visit to any one of our locations, please contact:
Arapahoe County Communication Services
303.795.5467
Awards
2025 Center for Work Education and Employment Program Partner of the Year
2025 Greater Englewood Chamber of Commerce Lifetime Business Achievement Award Nomination
2024 Colorado Department of Labor and Employment Excellence in Workforce Award
2024 Northwest Douglas County Chamber & EDC’s non-profit or publicly funded not-for-profit of the year nomination
2022 African Chamber Partner of the Year
2022 Mark Sanders Award for Exceptional Veteran Services
2021 EDCC’s Partner of the Year
2020 Northwest Douglas County Chamber & EDC Large Sized Business of the Year
2017 C2ER Excellence in Economic Development Research Award
2017 Colorado Department of Labor & Employment Distinguished Accomplishment Award: Improving Veterans Services
2016 When Work Works Award
2015 NAWB 2015 WIB Excellence Award
2014 2014 Metropolitan Cooperation Award
2013 Alfred P. Sloan Award for Business Excellence in Workplace Flexibility
2012 EOPR Taskforce Promising Practices to Reduce Poverty
2012 Alfred P. Sloan Award for Business Excellence in Workplace Flexibility
2011 Alfred P. Sloan Award for Business Excellence in Workplace Flexibility
2010 Alfred P. Sloan Award for Business Excellence in Workplace Flexibility
2010 Colorado Department of Labor & Employment’s Best Practices Award, Outcomes Using Occupational Saturation Rates
Customer Success Stories
National Association of Workforce Boards (NAWB)
- Nadine is a single mother to four children. One of her younger children has a severe disability requiring constant, around-the-clock care. Due to his disability, she had been unable to find childcare, which in turn made it difficult to find a stable job. Adding to her challenges in finding employment was the fact that she was justice-involved and faced housing instability. Nadine enrolled in the Arapahoe County Colorado Works Program. Her Workforce Specialist provided her with information on two companies that could train and pay her to become a Parent-Certified Nursing Aide. The Colorado Works Program provided her with supportive services to assist with her job search needs. After contacting the home health care company and the Department of Regulatory Agencies to determine her eligibility, Nadine was approved and began training. After completing training, she was approved to be her son’s full-time aid.
- Michelle enrolled into the WIOA Adult and WTG programs in August 2024 to gain assistance with earning her Expanded Duties Dental Assistant (EDDA) credential. She had been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, was receiving public assistance, and she wanted to find a higher paying job. Her current employer had significantly reduced her hours as she was only a Dental Assistant. The EDDA credential would allow her to have higher wages and be offered more hours within the dental field as an Extended Duties Dental Assistant. Michelle worked hard on exploring dental assisting schools to see which ones offered the appropriate training she needed. She applied to receive funding to attend the National Dental Assisting School. Her training request was approved and funding was split between the WTG and WIOA AD programs. Michelle successfully completed training in October 2024. Shortly after, she was offered employment with a local dental clinic making $27 per hour. It was a $3 per hour increase from what she was previously making.