Registration Session (Orientation/Intake): This session is your first step to enroll in the Dislocated Worker Program. The session will cover services available to you, the enrollment process and any questions you have. After registration a vocational counselor will contact you within five business days and will invite you back to meet in person.

 

Individual Employment Plan (IEP): After the registration session you will meet with your vocational counselor to discuss career goals and develop your individual employment plan. The IEP charts a path toward your career goal.

 

Assessment: Together you and your counselor will assess what services you need, career goals, interests, skills, education and other information in order to arrange services and set the stage for a successful job search.

 

Career Counseling: Your counselor can help you plan training, find job leads, research careers and labor market information, apply for positions, create a résumé, improve your interviewing and networking skills and provide other assistance you may need during your job search. Your counselor is your advocate, their encouragement will help keep you on track!

 

Job Search Workshops and Resource Room: Attend one of our many engaging workshops to learn job search strategies and to connect with other dislocated workers. Workshop topics include career assessment, job search, résumé development, interview preparation, mature worker strategies, LinkedIn and other specialized topics. View workshop descriptions.

 

Our resource room is open to you during regular business hours and is equipped with the necessary tools to conduct a successful job search today: computers with high-speed internet access, business software, laser printer, fax machine and telephone. There is a library of school and company information, job leads, and books on résumés, job search and starting a business.

 

Career Training: We encourage dislocated workers to explore training that they can reasonably obtain. Funding can cover training expenses and is available for individuals who need adult basic education classes to earn a GED, introductory computer and software classes, coursework to gain a credential or an academic degree and occupational licenses and certifications. You must have approval from your counselor before you begin a training program.

 

On-the-Job Training (OJT): If you need to learn a new skill to secure employment and an employer is willing to train you on the job, the OJT benefit can reimburse the employer up to one half of your hourly wage for a set amount of weeks while they train you. An established contract must be in place between our agency and the employer before employment can begin.

 

Support Services: A portion of each of our grants is designated for support services to help relieve financial burdens for our participants in distress. Our professional Family Service Advocates can work with you to determine your eligibility for this assistance. The support service funds can help with expenses such as rent or mortgage payments, utility bills, car payments or repairs, etc. Our advocates can provide you with information and referrals for free personal and/or family counseling, financial counseling, health insurance and healthcare resources and an array of other community resources. We keep all information strictly confidential and private.