DON’T WAIT TO GET TRAINING
(Article published in HWW March 2007)
"The most important thing for residents of the shelter system is to complete their education, especially their GED."
That’s the first piece of advice residents of Henry Street’s Urban Family Center will hear from Judy Ocasio, vocational guidance counselor at one of the city’s oldest shelters for homeless families in NYC. Ocasio tells newcomers to the shelter there’s no time to waste -- now is the time to find resources for education and training.
"If they act quickly they have a better chance of going where they want to go."
She adds that getting training is especially important now that most families moving out are being placed in apartments with the HSP (Housing Stability Plus) subsidy. "That rent subsidy ends in five years and the clients are going to be responsible for their rent.," she says."If they don’t get some education and training, it will be a revolving door for them. . . back into the shelter system if they can’t pay the rent."
Ocasio advises families to look for an education or training program with a vendor code number that shows they are approved by the Human Resources Administration (HRA).
YOUNG DROPOUTS FACE LOW WAGE DEAD END FUTURE
Too many young New Yorkers are "disconnected." That is, they’re not in school and they’re not working -- and the odds are pretty good they’re not going anywhere. A recent Community Service Society (CSS) report says that 16% of NYC’s 16 through 24 year olds – that is nearly 170,000 young people -- are disconnected from a school, job or anything that might lead to a life of self-sufficiency. Further, African American and Hispanic youth, especially young men, are twice as likely as whites and Asians to be out of school and out of work.
Testifying before Congress, CSS’ David Jones, who served on Mayor Bloomberg’s Commission for Economic Opportunity, says "We must not allow another generation of young people of color to disappear into a life of poverty."
IT ISN’T JUST YOUNG PEOPLE WHO NEED TRAINING
Here are free programs that have a good record of preparing low-income New Yorkers for moving up in an economy that expects more skills and education in its workers --- starting with young people.
VOCATIONAL FOUNDATION INC.
52 Broadway, 6th Floor
New York, NY 10004
(212) 823-1034
In NYC high school dropouts, even those who find jobs, are considered "at risk" for good reason. Of those that do find work 43% will lose their jobs within 30 days of being hired because of lack of basic skills. Without help they would be lucky to wind up for life in low wage, dead end jobs.
Vocational Foundation Inc. (VFI), which calls itself NYC’s "oldest workforce development program for at risk young adults" was founded in 1936 to provide that help, VFI has served 170,000 young people and last year opened a brand new educational center in lower Manhattan where it plans to expand its program that now every year serves 300 men and women from 17 to 21 years old who are out of school and out of work.
VFI is a free, intensive program that combines training in both hard and soft skills plus GED. Hard skills are taught in various "career paths" including Medical Assistant, a profession expected to grow more than any other occupation in the next few years.
Other career paths are Security and Public Safety, Hospitality, Travel and Tourism, and Computer and Office Technology. Students are also taught how to dress and speak professionally, financial literacy and other soft skills.
After students graduate and start work, they’re assigned "Career Managers" who for two years meet with students regularly to give advice and support to help them keep their jobs.
Among the companies that hire VFI grads are Morgan Stanley, Verizon, J.P. Morgan Chase, Starbucks, and Saks Fifth Avenue.
POISED FOR SUCCESS
Bronx Community College
West 181 Street & University Ave.
Hall of Fame Terrace, McCracken
Hall, 2nd Floor
Bronx, NY 10453
(718) 741-9777
POISED FOR SUCCESS, a collaboration between CUNY (City University of New York) and HRA (Human Resources Administration) offers education and job readiness for young women who are either pregnant or have a child 2 years or older. (POISED is an acronym for Perfect Opportunity for Individual Skills and Educational Development.)
POISED 1, that is the first part of the program, is 12-13 weeks of classes in basic reading, writing and math skills, computer skills, parenting and health of mother and child. In POISED 2, the second half of the program, students learn resume writing and interview skills and start actual job search. A new session starts every two weeks on three different college campuses and for information you should call the individual college that interests you (see below).
A new program called POISED@HOME is for women who are pregnant and new mothers exempt from work activities by HRA. An instructor and social worker provide educational and counseling services to these women in their own homes.
For more information, call
Bronx Community College (718) 741 9777
Medgar Evers College in Brooklyn (718) 270-6466
CUNY in Manhattan (212) 650-7000
THE HOPE PROGRAM
#1 Smith Street, 4th floor
Brooklyn, NY 11201
(718) 852-9307
A free intensive 16 week Job Readiness program for New Yorkers who are poor or on welfare. The course includes 12 weeks of classroom training including computer literacy, GED preparation, (breakfast, lunch, clothing and emergency assistance are available) followed by 240 hours of internship, job search, and finally a promise of a lifetime of support to help participants keep and even improve their jobs .
Applicants for the program should attend an Open House any Tuesday or Thursday at 9 am, and take a Test of Adult Basic Education to measure their reading and math levels, and finally schedule an intake interview. For information contact Teresa Theophano, Intake Coordinator at (718) 852-9307 x 22.
STRIVE
240 E. 123rd St, corner 2nd Ave, 3rd Fl
New York, NY 10035
(212)360-1100.
An intensive four week job training and placement program in East Harlem that works hard to help students overcome problems that lead to job failure – anything from child care to mental health issues to bad work habits. Classes are Monday to Friday from 9 to 5. To apply, drop by Strive offices 9 am to 3 pm weekdays or call for information.
FIRST STEP
129 Fulton Street
New York, NY 10038
(212) 776-2074
A project of the Coalition for the Homeless., First Step is a free 12 to 14 week job training and placement program for homeless, formerly homeless and low income women of all ages 18 or older. (Students must be free of substance abuse for six months and maintain appropriate child care.) Classroom training in job readiness and job skills (including computers) is followed by internships, mentoring and support services for job seekers, and job placement. Orientation sessions are held at the Coalition headquarters at 129 Fulton Street in downtown Manhattan every Tuesday. For an appointment, call (212) 776-2074.
