Creating a Transition to Employment Program on a
ShoestringABE Summer Institute –
August 17, 2011
• Introduction and Warm Up• Description of CLUES’ ESL
Customer Service Prep/Office Prep Program
• Description of Curriculum and Learning Outcomes
• Exercise – Adapt Model to Local Needs
• Sharing and Wrap Up
Agenda
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ESL Customer Service Prep/Office Prep
•Transition to Employment: Improve skills and qualifications for entry level employment
•Combined program of ESL, computerand employment skills for Intermediate ESL students
•Bridge to employment and to further levels of education
• CLUES has been providing family-centric services in the community for 30 years.
• A continuum of services are provided through six core areas:– Mental Health Services– Chemical Health Services– Family Services– Aging Well Services– Community Health Worker Services– Economic Advancement Services – Includes
ABE/ESL
Who We Are
• In 2010-2011, CLUES served about 500 adult ESL students
• Approximately half were intermediate to advanced levels of ESL
Who are our students?
What are their needs?
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Changing Student Body - Changing Needs
2009-2010 Student Ethnicity
96%
1%3%
LatinoAsianBlack/African AmericanWhite
2010-2011 Student Ethnicity
76%
13%
7%
4%
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Changing Situations – Changing Needs
2009-10
2010-11
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Not in Labor ForceUnemployedEmployed
In 2010-11, 48% of students were unemployed or not in labor force – up from 31% in 2009-10
Core ESL Program
• Two sites – East St Paul and South Minneapolis
• Quarterly schedule; Year-round classes; Day and Evening Schedules
• Beginning; Intermediate; Advanced ESL
What are our Educational Resources?
Computer Classes and Lab
• CTEP Americorps Member• ESL Basic Computer classes
offered 2 days/week • Curriculum based on Digital
Literacy Standards provided by the SPCLC
• Various computer lab hours
What are our Educational Resources?
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What are our Educational Resources?
Distance Learning• Project IDEAL distance learning
training in October 2010 and ongoing webinars to discuss progress
• Began offering distance learning in January 2011
• In 2010-11, enrolled 21 students who have studied more than 500 hours
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What are our Educational Resources?
NRFF Customer Service Training & Certification
• Partnership with NCLR/Walmart to develop program
• Based on National Retail Federation Foundation curriculum
• CLUES is an approved site for the NRFF Customer Service Certification Test
• Three week/90 hour intensive class
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Other community resources?
• Mobile Workplace – Computer labs in Somali, Spanish, Hmong
• Public Library – Computer labs open days and evenings
• Employer Advisory Group – Advise regarding employment needs, serve as guest speakers
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Bridge to Employment?
Minnesota DEED reports that 12% of job vacancies i are in retail. (Second highest number of vacancies – first is healthcare)
Employer Advisory Group reports that high need for basic customer service skills for most positions
Bridge to Further Education?
Advanced ESL/
Essential Skills
Certificate
NRFF Customer Service/
Certificate
Hubbs Occupation
al Prep
Hubbs GED Prep
Post –Secondary Education!
Next steps:
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Creating a Bundled Program
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday
12:30-3:00 ESL Class
12:30-3:00 Computer Class
12:30-3:00 ESL Class
12:30-3:00 ESL Class
3:00-5:30 Customer Service/Office Prep
3:00-5:30 Computer Lab
3:00-5:30 Customer Service/Office Prep
3:00-5:30 Computer Lab
Total – 20 hours in class/lab plus 5 hours homework/Distance Learning
Existing – ESL, Computer class, computer lab, distance learning
Added – 5 hours per week – Customer Service Prep/Office Prep - $3000 Special funding to develop curriculum and teach pilot
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Outcome of pilot?
Total referred 24Total enrollment - start of class 20Total at conclusion of class 20Total graduated students (CLUES Certificate 10Total job placements (following classes) 8Placements retained-30 days 7Average wage at placement $8.06
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Outcome of pilot?
• What skills did you learn or improve during the class? The money; customer relations, how to
treat customers and read body language; I was learning how I can help other people’s needs more. Also how I can help more than one person at the same time. I was further improving my technique for being a sales associate and cashier.; I learned to build on the sale and read customers’ body language when a customer is deciding on a product.
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CURRICULUM
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
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YOUR TURN
HOW TO ADAPT TO LOCAL SETTING?
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Contact Info:
–Yvonne Lerew - [email protected]
651-379-4212
–Teresa Ortiz – [email protected]
651-379-4222