Jeff was a 55 year old, twice dislocated, unemployed worker. With resources drained and without any serious opportunity on the horizon he was uncertain of his next steps. He was increasingly depressed about his options. When he came to WorkSource he found help with not only the resources he needed to find a job, but hope and a vision of a better tomorrow.
Responding to Governor Inslee’s call for greater attention to the long-term unemployed, Pacific Mountain Workforce Development Council (PacMtn) designed JOURNEY 2 JOBS . PacMtn received $334,000 of a $4 million Rapid Response grant distributed to the state’s 12 workforce development councils for the new program.
JOURNEY 2 JOBS will intensify one-on-one support services, offer specialized and unique short-term training, develop a business mentorship program, and aggressively work to place individuals who have been unemployed more than 27 weeks or who are exhausting their unemployment benefits.
“This grant reflects the innovation and compassion of the public workforce development system. It engages the community and businesses in finding ways for these individuals to reattach to the labor market”, says Cheryl Fambles, PacMtn CEO. “We recognize the unique obstacles associated with extended unemployment. I will be calling upon all our community partners to help turn around this crisis. Doing so will also be good for individuals, for business and ultimately, for the health of our community.”
On-the-job training (OJT) and supported work experience can offset some of the employer’s hiring costs. For example, OJT reimburses the company for a portion of the trainee’s salary as they learn skills customized to that business. Funds will also be available for new employees to obtain certifications or other trainings the business requires for them to be hired.
Individuals who have been out of work for several months sometimes face bias from employers, but many of these individuals have significant education and experience that could benefit an employer.
“People who have been out of work for an extended amount of time face all types of personal challenges. Often they require assistance rebuilding their confidence as a worker. Journey 2 Jobs was designed to care for the whole individual, not just a provide job placement.” says Ms. Fambles.
The new program is set to launch in mid July. Businesses looking for job candidates and those seeking job opportunities should contact local WorkSource Offices or go on line at www.go2worksource.com
