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

Tulsa iJobs Program in Full Swing

By Jamie M. Barnes

(Tulsa, Oklahoma) The Tulsa iJobs program is in full swing, and the program is a hit with participants. Spurred by American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding, the summer youth program gives Tulsa area young people a chance to experience the working world and gain skills to compete in the job market.

The iJobs website, located at http://ijobstulsa.org/, has a wonderful definition of its program on its home page:

iJobs, or instant jobs, is an intensive summer youth employment program created as a result of the passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) targeting 16-24 year olds. iJobs participants will learn how to get and keep a job in a 3 week training academy, and then put those skills to use in a 6 week paid position with a local business.

Local employers play a critical role by volunteering to serve as an iJobs worksite, mentoring young adults and imparting positive work skills. Workforce Oklahoma is currently seeking local businesses to serve as worksites, and to provide supervised, safe and meaningful employment opportunities. Workforce Oklahoma will pay the youths' wages, taxes and provide worker's compensation insurance

The iJobs Program, mentioned in the July 13th issue of the Summer Youth Employment Snapshots (an American Recovery and Reinvestment Act publication), began recruiting participants in March and conducted enrollment workshops in April and May. Because the program focuses on educating at-risk youth, iJobs staff outreached public housing areas, community centers, and public assistance programs. The four-hour enrollment workshop included career interest assessment and the Test of Adult Basic Education, or TABE. The TABE test is a useful instrument to determine levels of competency in basic reading, mathematics and language skills, and is used as an assessment tool for many government education and training programs.

The three-week Work Readiness Academy began on June 8th and ended on June 26th, and on June 30th, the six-week Work Experience began. The Work Readiness Academy consisted of a 52-hour MyPlace Work Readiness and Life Skills curriculum, a ropes course, client interviews, and a Demand Industry Employer Panel. The six-week Work Experience portion of the program involves the students in actual on-the-job training with employers, Monday through Thursday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.

The program is rounded out by the Four Plus One activities, or Friday Enrichment Activities, held on July 10th, 17th, 24th, and 31st. The Enrichment Activities feature Regional Post-Secondary Educational Tours, Career and Cultural Exploration Activities, and a Facilitated Debriefing of Work Experience.

The iJobs Program wraps up on August 7th, with the Program Graduation and Awards Ceremony, which will highlight the many successes of the students. After completion, the participants will have the opportunity to pursue a year-round work program.