The Valley Adult Learning Association will continue to provide workplace training to adults facing “employment barriers” thanks to a $27,900 grant from the Trillium Foundation.
The goal of the program is to work closely with adult and local employers to develop employment readiness goals that will best suit the needs of both the clients and the employers.
And while it started last year, this new funding—which officially was announced Feb. 6 and is spread over two years ($14,000 this year and $13,900 in 2005)—will provide funding to keep it going.
“We were trying a trial run to see if we would get positive outcomes. And we were surprised with the success,” VALA co-ordinator Barb Duguay said regarding the first year of the program.
The workplace mentoring program is a 12-week program, with 10 weeks of training and a two-week job placement that’s monitored by a workplace mentor.
This February through June, eight local clients will go through the program, with another eight anticipated to do so next January through June.
As co-ordinator, Duguay’s job is to recruit participants from community agencies and local employers as well as meet with employers to set up future placements.
Literacy instructor Kim Redford then leads a goal-setting workshop, and administers initial assessments to match clients’ aptitudes to a particular job field.
She also teaches the 10-week job readiness course, which refreshes people on basic literacy and math skills.
As workplace instructor, Jeannette Cawston’s job is to give clients customer service and cash register training, and be on-site for clients to provide support while they’re on the job.
And while not directly part of the workplace mentoring program, Patty Jorgenson also will offer her help as a computer instructor if necessary.
Duguay noted each client that goes through the program is different—and the program is flexible to be able to accommodate that fact.
“Some people need mentoring for only four hours, some need four weeks,” she remarked. “We might move people out of job readiness training before the 10 weeks are up. Everybody works at their own speed.
“If someone needs more time to do the job right, we can provide that.”
After their training and placements, VALA continues to monitor clients and record their progress.
They also follow up with employer evaluations. And clients are required to fill out “exit surveys” to report what they’d learned and if they found the program worthwhile.
This program is anticipated to have a 75 percent success rate in the first year (in other words, participants gain full-time employment). “And even if you don’t get a job right away, you get the skills,” reasoned Duguay.
“I think the employers have been quite happy with the program,” added Duguay, noting that businesses offering placement positions so far have included Robin’s Donuts, Einar’s, SAAN, Pinewood Sports and Marine, the Rainy River District School Board, Badiuk Equipment, Shaw Cable, and Gingrich Woodcrafts.
She noted that VALA used to try and simply place is clients in workplaces and give them work experience, but found that often this wasn’t as successful as hoped.
“Without the mentoring, they kept coming back,” said Duguay, adding that some people just didn’t have the confidence when thrown into a new environment.
“Once the employers found out that we would be on the job with the clients, they were thrilled,” said Cawston, noting most employers can’t afford to have their other staff take time to tell new employees what to do.
Cawston, who started as workplace trainer with the program at the beginning of February, added VALA is always interested in finding more employers to open their doors to their clients.
Duguay noted there already have been success stories.
Most recently, a young woman (who can’t be named due to privacy regulations) first came to VALA five-six months ago. She worked on her computer and office skills, and proceeded to get a placement as a casual education assistant with the Rainy River District School Board.
Then just last Wednesday, the board put her on a casual EA list.
“That’s what the government likes to see,” said Duguay. “Over seven months, her confidence skyrocketed.”
In another success story, a woman who was on welfare for 10 years now has a full-time position at a local department store thanks to the program.
VALA staff and some of its clients held a small celebration last Thursday, with other guests such as Georges Blanc, who sits on the Trillium Foundation board of directors for the Rainy River District and lauded the program, and VALA board member Helen Crook.
“Of all the things I do in life, this is one of the best,” Blanc said of being able to dispense funds as a representative of the Trillium Foundation. “When I go home at nights after events like this, I tell my wife that I feel like I did a wonderful thing.”
The Trillium Foundation gives out about $100 million annually across the province. The region gets about $1.9 million of that, which is divided between the Kenora, Rainy River, and Thunder Bay districts, noted Blanc.
Beyond the workplace mentoring program, VALA offers adults with math, computer, and literacy training, and currently has 26 active clients who usually come by several times a week.
Some of these “learners” are getting prepped to enter college courses while others are getting skills training and temporary job placements to help build up references on their résumés.
“It’s definitely helped with my math. I was having a very hard time,” said Lou Marquis, a learner who was on hand last Thursday during the celebration. “Anybody who needs help with their reading, spelling, math should come here.”
Rudy Chalifoux, who moved here with his wife, Jeanne, from Terrace, B.C., has found seasonal work but is looking for something more. He’s been focusing on gaining computer skills as well as using the Internet to look for jobs while he works on his GED.
“Things are going really well. The instructors are great,” he said. “It’s easier than if you’re in school. There’s more one-on-one. You’re not pressured, you can move at your own speed.”
To learn more about VALA’s services, or to offer placements for the workplace mentor program, call 274-3553.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
