|
Unique Partnership Remains Strong for Summer 2005
by Janie Gaither
The STEP Youth Program has partnered with the USFS- Happy Camp Ranger
District for several years in providing eligible youth with
educational and employment opportunities in the forestry
industry. However, in 2004, Max Creasy, USFS Ecologist, and Janie
Gaither, STEP Youth Vocational Advisor, submitted a proposal to the Siskiyou
County Resource Advisory Committee for assistance with a new and
innovative endeavor.
The goal was to provide employment and environmental education to youth
in the repressed Klamath River Area while eradicating and
controlling state-rated noxious
weeds that pose a threat to local biodiversity values and proper
ecosystem functioning. In addition, the project would include
promoting the understanding and dissemination of knowledge regarding
weed management among the local populace.
The proposal was indeed accepted by the Resource
Advisory Committee and
through this special funding, the agencies were able to
collaborate in
the development and implementation of a Noxious Weed Youth Crew to
accomplish these goals. The RAC funds have allowed for
the
partnership to hire a supervisor for this unique project as well as
cover STEP administrative costs.
This summer marked the second annual Noxious Weed Youth Crew
Partnership. During the summer, the Noxious Weed Crew participates in a
wilderness activity in the Marble Mountains. Each youth employee
is provided a food allowance and necessary supplies from the USFS for
the adventure. In addition to weed abatement in the Marbles,
youth receive remediation, life skills and mentoring services while
completing in this activity.
Members of this year’s crew were: Donald Cook, Bernadette Lowry,
Lissey Lee, Jaimie King, and David Schmidt. Elton Penland has
served as the supervisor of the Noxious Weed Youth Crew for the last
two summers and has been recognized for his effort to positively impact
the crew while teaching them fundamental employability skills and
exposure into the world of work.
|
Partnerships
by Delores Virag
STEP & Siskiyou County Human Services have a long standing
partnership that was implemented over eight years ago
prior to legislation requiring partnerships. This has been a most
rewarding partnership in many ways.
This relationship has improved and grown over the
years. Starting with the placement of one SCHS staff (Job Developer)
located at the STEP office to the current four Human
Services co-located with STEP staff.
The integrated staff is comprised as follows:
One Supervisor, a Job Developer, and two Career Resource Technicians
from Human Services, one Career Development Advisor,
one Learning Lab Specialist and two Career Resource
Technicians from STEP. This presents a unique
situation as the Human Services Supervisor not only supervises
HS staff but also supervises the STEP staff as well.
The Human Service s Supervisor reports directly
to STEP’s Executive Director.
Operational duties of the computer labs and literacy lab
are performed by the blended staff. Human Services
provides a co-located area for Workforce Connection in Yreka while STEP
provides the co-location in Weed. We also have a satellite office in
Tulelake (82 miles) which staff alternately operate on a weekly
basis.
As mentioned above, the Career Development Advisor is a STEP staff
member, however his salary is contracted and paid by Human Services for
the services that are provided by this staff member.
Both organizations
provide staff, locations, supplies, and training for a true working
partnership at its best.
|
Job Connection
by Bruno Grossi
STEP partners with Siskiyou County Human
Services Department to provide a three week long Job Search class which
is offered every month. The class is designed to provide
participants an opportunity to reevaluate themselves in a more positive
light, to raise their self-esteem and processes necessary to
successfully compete in the labor market. The class teaches
self-directed job search techniques and explores many skills required
to maintain and move ahead on the job.
The class covers these main topics: Identifying and Packaging Your
Skills and Strengths; Discovering the Hidden Job Market; Researching;
Completing Thorough Applications; Composing information packed Cover
Letters; Writing a Dynamic Resume; Powerful, Persuasive Interviewing
Techniques; Thank You Letters; Job Coping, Keeping and Advancing Skills.
|
Partners Increasing Success in Working Together!
by Paula Young & Reich
I was very enthused when I learned that the
focus of
this edition of the Community Coordinator’s Report was highlighting
partnerships involved in our work. I believe that our community
of social services professionals is exemplary in forging productive and
enduring partnerships that produce greater benefit for
individuals we
serve, with greater wisdom.
For the past six
years, I have been privileged to meet and work with a
diverse population of families transitioning from cash assistance into
the workforce in a program called Job Retention
Services. The
intent of retention services is to help working families sustain
employment over a period of time and increase wages and
benefits so
they can achieve independence from public assistance
programs. This program was created to address the specific needs
of this targeted
population in our county through a partnership with Siskiyou County
Human Services and STEP, using complimentary skills and strategies, and
based on high need revealed from local, state, and national research.
For many people and for many reasons, holding a job is more
difficult than getting a job and in reality, Job Retention participants
often require additional resources, education, enhanced
skills, and supportive services after gaining employment.
To succeed in sustaining employment and advancement,
it also is important to encourage, develop, and incorporate personal
and financial responsibility. Collaborative partnerships
with community organizations, mentoring a nd
networking groups, and creative problem-solving teams are very
valuable in assisting Job Retention participants to plan for their
future, be flexible and resilient to change, and to resolve challenges,
conflicts, and crises as they arise. In addition
to Human Services, key partners addressing these diverse efforts
include the Family Resource Centers, College of the Siskiyous, Behavioral
and Public Health Services, Siskiyou Child Care Council,
Northern Valley Catholic Social
Services, Hannah House, Jefferson Economic Development Institute (JEDI),
Consumer Credit Counseling Services,
and Siskiyou Domestic Violence and Crisis Center.
We are so fortunate to be in a community of committed
individuals that
have developed genuine perspective and depth
about issues of
consideration and very useful and effective skills in working well
together!
Job Retention Advisor, Paula
Young&Reich, Job Retention Participant Carissa
Golden
and daughter Taylor,and Scott Valley Family Resource Center Program
Coordinator,
Chris Brown
|
Partnering to Promote Business
by Josephine Wyatt
The Siskiyou County Economic
Development Council (SCEDC) and the Workforce Connection are the
lead
partner agencies
for the promotion and
vouchering for the Shasta Valley Enterprise Zone.
Enterprise zones were established in California to stimulate
development and hiring in selected economically depressed areas and to make
California more competitive. The Enterprise Zone Act provides
special tax incentives for entities and individuals
that operate or invest in a business located within a designated
enterprise zone. The Shasta
Valley Enterprise Zone currently includes Yreka (partial), Montague and
Weed. Businesses located within the Enterprise Zone receive a
substantial "tax credit" for hiring individuals that meet the required
criteria.
The SCEDC staff and
Workforce Connection staff perform the actual vouchering, and in turn
charge a fee for the service. The Shasta Valley Enterprise
Zone was designated in 1993. The designation is effective for 15
years, until 2008. The SCEDC will be re-applying for designation and
hopefully expansion of the zone, with collaboration from the cities throughout Siskiyou
County as well as the Workforce Connection.
|
well
as enhance the State of
California’s Natural Resources.
Many
Corpsmembers, like Billy St. Germain and Amber Booth, both of Hornbrook
feel more confident about their abilities since participating on the
YSCP Crew. St. Germain feels proud of the accomplishments that
the crew has made so far, while Booth has developed a better
appreciation for the environment. Booth feels that hiking Black
Butte was challenging for her, but it was the spark that ignited her
self-confidence. 
