 |
Welfare To Work
Welfare To Work serves economically disadvantaged adults currently receiving time-limited government assistance through the Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP). All of the individuals served in this program have dependent children under the age of 18. The goal of the program is to provide training and the opportunity to secure and maintain competitive employment in the community for people with negative or no work history. Most live in distressed neighborhoods throughout the greater metropolitan area and have other significant barriers to employment.
AccessAbility collaborates with other support programs and speaks ten languages. We provide intense follow-up and an in-house production facility to assist with gaining real work skills and work history. The outcome is long-term employment and career advancement. The staff and each program participant work together in a "whole family" assessment process to determine the barriers to successful employment and develop a plan to overcome them. Assistance with resources is given to participants to help them address issues preventing successful employment.
Training and work opportunities are available in a three-prong approach: entry level basic skills, mid-to-high technology, and career/personal training. Training is available for jobs such as assembly, production inspection, quality auditing, document processing, and equipment operation in our on-site facility. AccessAbility also offers a new innovative program called Project Connect that trains and places economically disadvantaged adults into office and administrative support positions including customer service, data entry, call center, receptionist, and other positions that require the use of technology. We work to provide a variety of opportunities present in the actual current job market.
AccessAbility offers a full range of services, including:
Career development and job placement services
- "Whole family" assessment and career planning
- Job development and training
- Post employment job training
- "Work-first" philosophy (immediate access to paid work in our production facility)
- Ongoing support on the job
- Job advancement to increase income
Follow-up support services
- Negotiation with employers regarding employment related problems
- Employer training on employment barriers and cultural/diversity issues
- Individual employment counseling and support
- Follow-up visits to stabilize job retention
Service links to MFIP providers
- Assistance in arranging child care
- Finding affordable housing
- Transportation assistance
- Other resources required
Service links for substance abuse and mental health
- Mental health and chemical dependency assessments
- Connection to treatment programs
- Aftercare counseling and support
- Staff and employer consultations
Educational links with MFIP providers
- Communication assistance and linkages to English as a Second Language programs (ESL)
- Connecting those without a high school diploma with GED programs
- Information about post-secondary education programs
- Linkages to other self improvement and career enhancing educational opportunities
|
|
|
