The Urban League has a five-point strategy to implement it’s mission,
one of which is “Economic Empowerment: Empowering people in attaining
economic self-sufficiency through job training, good jobs, homeownership, and
entrepreneurship and wealth accumulation.” The Integrated Employment Program, in operation since
1996, is one facet of that point
The purpose of the
IEP is to provide job seekers with the educational tools needed to conduct an
efficient and effective job search, become a successful and valued employee, and
maintain long-term employment sufficient to support him or her and family. To do this, the services are intended to prepare
the job seeker in three main aspects:
job preparation, job placement, and job retention.
The program provides access to job seekers who are difficult to reach by
the employing and corporate community.
It also serves job seekers that have been identified as hard to work
with by other employment service agencies. This job seeking population, which often includes ex-prisoners,
persons with a history of abusing alcohol and drugs and individuals with
various other barriers, requires the support of a dedicated program and a staff
that includes case managers that provide
intensive case management services.
This program provides the clients with one-on-one counseling, computer
training, GED preparation if necessary and other types of hands-on services.
These efforts serve to enhance the ability of difficult to hire and retain job
seekers to find employment, to further engage in the process of improving their
education, and to seek higher education. Further, this program provides the
opportunity to gain additional training such as computer skills and life, or “soft”,
skills.
The goals of the Integrated Employment Program can be summarized as
follows:
Break the cycle of under and
un-employment among persons living in Lancaster County;
Provide “soft” skills and life-long
learning to empower and enable job seekers to perform well in the work place
and in activities of daily living.
Provide an avenue for obtaining a GED,
if requested, or preparation for pursuing higher education. In specific cases,
clients are assisted with preparing for entrance exams and applying for
financial aid.
This program
primarily serves job seekers aged 25-60. They represent all races and ethnic
groups, however, the clients we serve are predominately Caucasian,
African-American and Latino/Hispanic.
Many of our clients would be identified as “hard-to-place” because IEP
clients are persons who are often lacking in job experience, skills and
training or education. Many are
ex-offenders who have left confinement within the last 3-6 months. Others are
adults who have not completed their high school education and are seeking to do
so along with finding employment. Lastly, many of our clients are dealing with
substance abuse history that led to one or more of the above issues. They
reside within the County of Lancaster, but live primarily in the southeast
section of Lancaster City, one of the most disadvantaged areas of the
city. Those few clients who are
already employed usually fall into the category of “underemployed.” This means
that the income they earn is not enough to move them out of poverty level. This
could be because of the low pay, large family size, or lack of hours available
to work.
This training is offered through our Community Technology and Learning
Center (CTLC). The CTL Center
addresses the need for adults to become engaged in other activities besides
just getting a job; the intent is that the Center will also empower job seekers
to want to continue learning. The Center offers computer instruction, typing
instruction, GED preparation and preparation for higher education. With these
efforts, there is a greater chance that the individuals in the program will
continue with learning for life and become engaged as a productive active
citizen and leader in the community.