HEAR T H EIR N E E D S A N D A DA P T: How Crispus Attucks seeks solutions for the workforce challenges in YoCo
A Q&A with Mike Jefferson, Director of the Crispus Attucks Center for Employment and Training STORY BY KATIE MAHONEY VICE PRESIDENT, MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS YORK COUNTY ECONOMIC ALLIANCE PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF CRISPUS ATTUCKS
Q: Can you tell us a bit about your role and focus at Crispus Attucks? A: The Center for Employment and Training opened in 1986, and the workforce has changed dramatically over the past 30 years. We serve all of York County for those with barriers, usually economic or social. Our major funder is SCPA Works (South Central Workforce Investment Board). We serve specific populations: • 14 to 18 years of age: Preparing in-school youth for career exploration or to find employment. This summer, our Youth Employment Academy showed kids all over York County what it means to work: how to take direction, show up on time, have a positive attitude, and so on. • 18 to 24 years of age: Utilizing our Work Experience Program to place individuals with companies that are willing to hire them full time. We pay their salaries for up to three months so the company can see if they are a great fit. • 25 to 54 years of age: We partner with CareerLink, which we offer as a location on George Street in the city. There is a funding gap for this age group, so we rely heavily on the partnerships we make. • 55 years and older: We offer the Senior Employment Program. The workforce has changed. Folks don’t retire at 60 or 65 anymore, and, fortunately, businesses have been open to hire this generation. Q: What do you see as barriers for employment in YoCo? A: For youth, the academic skills and educational barriers like reading, writing, and math skills are an obstacle. Also, the social barriers: There’s the lack of familial support or not having working parents to demonstrate the work ethic early on is a concern. Students countywide experience social and economic challenges. There is a York County Re-Entry Coalition that assists those with a criminal background in finding employment and social connections back to the community. We’ve begun working with HACC, Central Pennsylvania’s Community College and MANTEC on a S.T.E.P. program to assist those with criminal backgrounds, or those in the 25 to 54 age range, who may need employability training and remediation. 12 YoCo CONNECT | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2018 | YCEAPA.ORG
