Career Services Department
The Career Services Program is highly committed to help people finding stable employment and developing themselves as they search for better opportunities in the workforce. Our ability to effectively change behaviors, skills, knowledge, and values of our participants requires a combination of counseling, job-skills training, case management, interpretation, and advocacy in order to become more economically self-sufficient.
The Spanish Action League’s (La Liga) Careers Services helps individuals through job readiness skills training and education and job referrals to obtain employment.
The Careers Services Department adheres to the mission of The Spanish Action League to “build on the rich cultural heritage of the Latino community by advancing its independence”, through building individuals’ confidence in job related activities, guiding them towards education and referring them to programs that will address needs such as childcare and transportation, with the primary objective of placing them into permanent jobs. Our ultimate goals are to make families and individuals economically self-sufficient and to reduce unemployment within the Latino community. Also, we consider ourselves intermediaries between the Latino community and the rest of the community and we envision that the whole community will be enriched with the addition of qualified Latinos in the workplace.
All clients now are receiving the following services:
- Orientation session, in which we explain our services and the clients’ responsibilities—punctuality is a top priority. A Self-Assessment Survey is distributed to all participants in the orientation session to learn about their goals, barriers to employment, and expectations (what they want to get out of the program and what kind of job they want). In addition, we use an interactive video in Spanish that teach clients interview skills, conduct application development exercise, and facilitate lively discussions to incite the participation of the audience. At the end of the orientation session, every client receives an appointment with the Employment Specialist, Director and the collaboration staff the next day.
- Personal Assessment where our staff assists clients in identifying their interests, strengths, and barriers to employment. Also makes referrals to pertinent services, provides counseling, and helps clients develop a weekly action plan.
- Follow-up appointments in which to constant review are needed in order to encourage clients to think about their employment options as well as to promote personal responsibility for their choices. We are using our database to track the components of our pre-employment program.
- Post employment services (Placement) that provides the supportive services that help people retain employment.
The department has two grants: United Way and CDBG to help participants have the opportunity to receive a wide of services in order to better educate themselves and increase their opportunity to move ahead in employment. Finally, the main objective for the Career Services staff is to encourage clients to think about their choices in life and to take personal responsibility for their job-search.
For further information or help finding employment please contact:
Angela Cabrera, Director of Careers
(315) 475-6153 ext. 213
acabrera@laligaonline.com
