Arbor News - Arbor Education and Training

12/18/2009
Arbor Sponsors the Mega Job Expo in Maryland

12/07/2009
ResCare – New Deal in the UK

12/01/2009
2nd Arbor E&T Bake Sale raises $500 for SHARE

11/25/2009
Notification of Breach of Private Information

11/23/2009
Mon Valley Bridge Open House

11/20/2009
SuperJobs Seasonal Hiring

11/18/2009
National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week 2009, Allen County

11/16/2009
Arbor Welcomes New Texas Regional Vice President

11/06/2009
A moment to honor our veterans

10/22/2009
Arbor Fights the Flu

10/16/2009
ResCare Comments on Indiana Governor’s Announcement

10/07/2009
In the News: Arbor and Green Guide Network

10/01/2009
Tremendous Project in Cincinnati

9/28/2009
Five Project Directors: Interview Five

9/22/2009
Five Project Directors: Interview Four

9/15/2009
Five Project Directors: Interview Three

9/15/2009
Arbor Sponsors Literacy Gala

9/08/2009
Five Project Directors: Interview Two

9/01/2009
Five Project Directors: Interview One

8/26/2009
Snohomish County Enlarges Dislocated Worker Program

8/20/2009
Pennsylvania Governor Visits Harrisburg Summer Youth Program

8/18/2009
Canoga Park Job and Resource Fair

8/13/2009
VIPs in SuperJobs Cincy

8/12/2009
U.S. Department of Labor’s 2009 United We Serve Initiative Begins

7/28/2009
An Innovative Summer Youth Project in Oregon

7/21/2009
Tulsa iJobs Program in Full Swing

7/17/2009
Green Strategies Workgroup

7/6/2009
Arbor TANF Partnership in Nebraska Receiving Positive Feedback

7/1/2009
Arbor E&T is Thinking Green

Green Jobs

By Jamie M. Barnes

There are many definitions for the terms green jobs, green initiatives, green technology and "greening." The Internet hosts scores of articles, produced by individuals and organizations, ranging from descriptions and definitions to plans for do-it-yourself solar energy collection. According to Virginia Williams Joyce, who is a member of ResCare ETSG's "Green Strategies Workgroup," green is a new way of thinking.

The Workgroup studies the latest information about green initiatives and green jobs, and stays abreast of regional and national news, funding initiatives, and industry white papers. Because of this, ResCare is able to stay on the cutting edge of the green movement and provide its customers timely solutions.

One fact about the majority of green jobs: they are not "new" jobs. In actuality, many green jobs available today have familiar titles, such as landscaper or builder. The difference is that the new, green jobs have added standards and outcomes designed to protect and/or improve the environment. Rob Sentz of Economic Modeling Specialists, Inc. (EMSI) states that, "Green occupations can be broadly defined as any occupation which has the potential to be engaged in environmentally-friendly work activities or produce environmentally-friendly products."

Because so many existing jobs can be "greened," the Office of Management and Budget accepted only two of about eighty suggested new (green) job titles for the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system: Solar Photovoltaic Installer and Wind Turbine Service Technician. These two new jobs fall under the already existing Electrical Engineer occupation code, and they also belong to the renewable energy sector, which includes biomass; wind; geothermal; hydroelectric; and photovoltaic/solar energy.

Of great interest to our Green Workgroup is the energy efficiency field, as it reflects the bulk of current "greenable" careers. This sector contains most of the low and middle skill jobs that are easily adapted for greener outcomes. Mass retrofitting of buildings in the public sector is already underway using American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding, and agencies are creating new certification standards to be met by workers and products. Many of our programs now focus on this area to provide regional recovery and employment opportunities.

By consistently tracking economic trends and regional needs, ResCare is able to custom design green programs for each community we serve. In many of ResCare's existing projects we have implemented additional green skills training, and many of our youth programs now feature green curriculums and summer youth programs. We plan to train ResCare's One-Stop Career Center personnel to recognize and disseminate information about green opportunities within their communities, and our Center trainers and facilitators are investing their time and energy in rewriting job readiness training materials to include green education.

With this focus on education and vocational training, ResCare is assisting individuals and their communities to go green and stay green with sustainable jobs and job skills. We are already beginning to see the impact of green education and community partnerships on the economy and environment, and ResCare looks forward to seeing more positive outcomes from its Green Initiatives programs in the future.