Louisiana Business Leadership Network

Transcription

1 Louisiana Business Leadership Network August, WII-FY What is in this issue for YOU? I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E 1 WII - FY 2 Healthcare Training 2 Advanced Manufacturing Training 3 Culinary Arts Training 3 Marine Transportation Training 4 Focus on Abilities 4 Louisiana Job Fairs 5 About LBLN Opportunities to collaborate! Opportunities to connect! Communicating and connecting YOU with opportunities is our primary objective at LBLN. The projects described in this publication offer opportunities for you and/or your organization to participate. LBLN connects hundreds of professionals throughout the business, government and non-profit communities. The next four pages offer brief descriptions of the projects that LBLN is currently facilitating. Feel free to share this information throughout your professional and personal networks. Together, we can develop an inclusive community for Louisiana citizens. LBLN can connect you with training opportunities in four workforce sectors: healthcare, marine transportation, culinary arts and advanced manufacturing. (page 2) According to the U. S. Census Bureau, about 49.7 million Americans have a disability, which includes people of all ages. Get connected with businesses and non-profits during the October Job Fairs for People with DisAbilities. Businesses will have the opportunity to recruit qualified applicants. Job seekers will have the opportunity to explore job prospects. (page 3) Collaborate with the Greater Baton Rouge Society of Human Resource Management (GBR SHRM). LBLN and GBR SHRM have established an alliance program, Focus on Abilities. (page 3) Contact LBLN to learn more about these opportunities (contact information at the end)!

2 Page 2 LBLN August, 2007 Healthcare Training By Kimberly Seeger, LBLN HeaRTS Healthcare Recovery Training System is an employerbased program designed to improve the healthcare workforce of South Louisiana by training and securing employment of more than 1,000 additional healthcare workers in high demand occupations in the 20 Tier 1 and Tier 2 hurricane-affected parishes. If you are interested in a career in healthcare, HeaRTS may be able to help you find a training program with reduced costs. And if you are in a lower income bracket, you may be eligible while you are in training for childcare, transportation or other expenses directly related to training, such as books, uniforms, special fees, etc. The funds will be paid directly to the vendors or to the schools. Training programs are available in southeast, south central and southwest Louisiana for the following occupations: Certified Nurse Assistant/Aide (CNA) Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Registered Nurse (RN) Emergency Medical Technician/Paramedic Echo Technician Surgical Technologist Patient Care Technician (PCT) Visit for a list of where and when trainings are offered. (Not all curricula are available in all areas.) Advanced Manufacturing Specialist Training The training you receive will focus on the skills that our industry partners have identified as the most critical skill areas needed in the manufacturing sector. Courses include: Technical Math, Safety, Lock-out/Tag-out, Blueprint Reading, CNC Lathe, Metallurgy, Basic Electricity, Ohms law, AC/DC Theory, Motor Controllers, Instrumentation, Schematics and Diagrams, Communication skills and Welding. Advanced Manufacturing training offers excellent job opportunities. Jobs in this field include: Machinist, Electrical Technicians, Industrial Maintenance, Instrumentation Technicians, Construction and Marine Trades earn $25,000-$40,000 per year. This is your opportunity to become part of the skilled workforce that industry needs.

3 LBLN August, 2007 Page 3 Culinary Arts Training Culinary training will be offered through Café Reconcile, Nunez Community College and Delgado Community College. Each program is responsive to industry developments and is guided by a professional. Students, who are not able to satisfactorily complete general education courses, like English and Math, can still receive recognition for competencies in the trade areas of cooking, baking and cold preparations through some of the programs offered. According to the LA Job Vacancy Survey, trade, transportation and utilities had the largest number of vacancies in Marine Transportation Training Delgado has established an education and training program to assist the marine industry in recruiting and retaining skilled employees on the New Orleans and Northshore campuses. Program goals include increasing technical skill levels and competency of participants as well as to recruit individuals for the maritime and oil and gas industries. Lodging and tuition paid by grant funding USCG required courses Industry certification in all completed courses Career pathways include: Entry Level Deckhand Deckhand to Tankerman Tankerman to Apprentice/Steersman Entry Level Roustabout

4 Page 4 LBLN August, 2007 Focus on Abilities By Robin Schooling, VP of Society of Human Resource Managers (GBR SHRM) In May 2007, the Louisiana Business Leadership Network formed an alliance with the Greater Baton Rouge Society for Human Resource Management (GBR SHRM) in response to the ODEP National Alliance Initiative and their partnership with SHRM as presented to membership by Susan Meisinger, SPHR, President and CEO. This GBR SHRM alliance program is entitled Focus on Abilities. Our combined intent is to strengthen the connections between LBLN and employers, by providing a partnership and linkage between LBLN and the HR community and business community in the greater Baton Rouge area and in the state of Louisiana. The Greater Baton Rouge Society for Human Resource Management, an affiliate chapter of SHRM, is a non-profit organization for Human Resource professionals with responsibilities in Human Resource Administration, Employment, Employee/Labor Relations, Compensation and Benefits. GBR-SHRM was founded in 1977 and currently has close to 200 members representing over 130 organizations. es/index.htm Our combined intent is to strengthen the connections between LBLN and employers, by providing a partnership and linkage between LBLN and the HR community. Louisiana Job Fairs There will be nine events across the state aimed at matching employers who are hiring and persons with disabilities who are looking for jobs. Events will be held in Lake Charles on Oct. 4; Alexandria, Shreveport and the Northshore on Oct. 16; New Orleans and Monroe on Oct. 18; Baton Rouge on Oct. 23; and Lafayette and Houma on Oct. 30 In the past three years, more than 4,200 job seekers were connected with 525 businesses statewide, said Elaine Richard, program manager for the Department of Health and Hospitals Medicaid Purchase Plan, which is the statewide sponsor of the job fairs. We expect this year s event to bring even more jobs and job seekers together. This recruitment effort is organized by the Louisiana Business Leadership Network, a nonprofit association led by businesses that value persons with disabilities as customers and employees. The Medicaid Purchase Plan, the event s sponsor, provides health care coverage to working people with disabilities. Local event teams are the driving force which makes these job fairs a success. A collaboration of professionals from multiple community organizations volunteer to coordinate job fairs. For more information about the 2007 job fairs, including information about local events, visit Medicaid Purchase Plan online at

5 LBLN August, 2007 Page 5 About LBLN The Louisiana Business Leadership Network (LBLN) is a business-led, non-profit organization dedicated to helping Louisiana employers understand, utilize, and benefit from the valuable resource that people with disabilities represent in both the consumer and labor markets. We envision a future where... Businesses actively market their products and services to consumers with disabilities because doing so creates profit. Employers actively recruit, hire, train, advance, and support workers (with disabilities) because doing so raises productivity. Agencies and vendors (that exist to serve the employment needs of people with disabilities) recognize and respond to the fact that employer satisfaction is a fundamental service outcome that must be addressed to guarantee their success and survival. People with disabilities, once hired and properly accommodated in their jobs, are not workers with disabilities, but simply workers. To fulfill this purpose and to pursue this vision, the Louisiana Business Leadership Network will provide: Employer Consultation & Technical Assistance Training Liaison/Networking Support Research & Development Public Relations Louisiana Business Leadership Network 504 Mayflower Drive Metairie, LA Phone: Website: Larry Dale, Larry@lbln.org Kimberly Seeger, Kim@lbln.org Debbie Welch, Debbie@lbln.org