We use Career Development as a key strategy for professional development and employment retention. Our focus is to stimulate our workforce development clients to become aware of their interests, skills and values to guide them in their transition from a job to a career. The Career Development Program has two tiers: Tier One is Occupational Goals, and Tier Two is Educational Goals.
Our Career Support Services are customized to meet the specific needs of both our workforce development clients and our Business Clients. Services include, but are not limited to.
Workshops on Career Planning
Our synopsis of the Career Planning Process consists of a series of assessments that aid participants in gaining awareness of themselves, the job market, and the resources needed to succeed in achieving their career goals.
Self Assessments, including:
» Interests and Values
» Work-related experience
» Personal and professional development goals
» Education
» Skills
» Barriers
Job Market
An assessment of the job market is covered to ensure clients’ awareness of job opportunities in industries experiencing growth.
Resources Available
An assessment of clients’ support system is evaluated to ensure awareness of needed resources important to career development.
Identifying Personal and Professional Development Goals
As a follow up to Assessments, participants identify their personal and professional goals that guide them in the goal setting process. The focus of this workshop is to stimulate participants’ minds and prepare them for career planning. They are provided with a series of Reflection Questions to stimulate thinking.
Setting Occupational and Educational Goals
This workshop engages participants in the goal-setting process. Participants are provided with tools to assist them in establishing career-related goals which are time specific and measurable.
They also receive guidance in developing a “Five Year Plan” by establishing short-term, mid-range and long term goals that are occupational and educational. Included in this “Goal Setting” process are techniques for identifying and overcoming barriers at each goal level.
Job Retention Services
KPS meets at least once per week with each workforce client. The Case Manager makes work site visits to conduct evaluations with on-site supervisors,and coach the clients on workplace skills and behaviors. The Case Manager also coordinates the provision of social services during non-working hours, monitoring attendance and personal improvements. The key to the success of our case-management retention services is that the same coach monitors success both on the job and off, providing a level of continuity while teaching the clients how to manage the demands of the workplace with the competing demands of their home and personal lives.
This method is the reason why KPS ensures at least six (6) months of retention at unsubsidized jobs – support is consistent and integrated. The wisdom of this strategy is proven by retention statistics yet to be paralleled by any of our competitors.
Supportive Services
KPS recognizes that the barriers to employment among its clients are often daunting and debilitating. For this reason, KPS collaborates with a range of providers who address a variety of client needs. In addition, KPS ensures that those supportive services are coordinated with the work schedule of participants.
Career Advancement Services
KPS works closely with its workforce clients to realize growth opportunities and coach them to continually develop work skills and pursue personal goals. The majority of the positions in which we place workforce clients offer personal growth and career advancement.
Also, KPS’ Case Managers encourage workforce clients to take advantage of training and educational opportunities available in their communities to improve their market value for future advancements and salary increases. Historically, those programs have included GED, college credits, and vocational training. We enroll clients in an array of educational and training programs, based on available community resources. Again, such services are coordinated with work schedules, with the Case Manager acting as the liaison between the school and the client, monitoring attendance and achievement.
