Community and employer partnerships key to services
San Benito County’s One-Stop Career Center celebrated 10 years
of service March 24, at its offices on San Felipe Road. The event
featured staff from the center as well as guest speakers from the
community who talked about the impact of the One-Stop Career Center
has had through the years.
Joshua Disney, who was recognized at the event for completing
one of the programs offered, used the One-Stop center to help find
work. Disney, who started out as a computer science major in
college before transferring to another school and changing his
major to communications, said he walked into the center without any
ideas of what he wanted to do.
Community and employer partnerships key to services
San Benito County’s One-Stop Career Center celebrated 10 years of service March 24, at its offices on San Felipe Road. The event featured staff from the center as well as guest speakers from the community who talked about the impact of the One-Stop Career Center has had through the years.
Joshua Disney, who was recognized at the event for completing one of the programs offered, used the One-Stop center to help find work. Disney, who started out as a computer science major in college before transferring to another school and changing his major to communications, said he walked into the center without any ideas of what he wanted to do.
“It’s like when you walk into a library, you are expecting to look for a book but you’re not sure how to get to it,” he said, when he was handed a plaque of recognition during the event. “You ask a librarian who helps you find it. These guys are the job librarians who help find the appropriate job for you.”
Disney is now working in information technology for San Benito County, a job for which he was encouraged to apply by staff at the center.
“They liked me so much, they hired me,” he said. “They guide you through the pitfalls and direct you toward what you can turn into a career.”
Disney heard about the services at the center from his grandfather who owns a business in the community and has hired employees through the center.
“They offered some training, but it was about confidence building,” Disney said. “They give the tools to help find a job, but they have a pulse on the local jobs. It really is true that they know the little tricks and tips to find what’s out there.”
Rafael Rojas, a local student, started at the One-Stop Career Center in a summer youth program that provided placement for local high school students through the Work Experience Program. He is working for the Hollister Youth Leader as a change team leader on the Dunne Park Restoration Project.
“They helped with all the training,” Rojas said. “They helped me succeed in what I’m doing now.”
Enrique Arreola, the deputy director of Community Services and Workforce Development, introduced the guest speakers and those receiving awards at the event.
Arreola said he used the One-Stop Career Center when he was a teenager.
“I came for several years as a participant,” Arreola said. “I worked at the migrant center and janitorial jobs. It laid the foundation.”
Arreola went away to school, returned to the area and took the deputy director position three years ago.
“For our youth or anyone placed, it is a prevention and intervention,” he said. “The reality is youth having a job teaches work ethics and different levels of responsibility.”
The staff at the One-Stop Career Center provide a variety of services to job seekers as well as employers. They provide vocational and career assessment, retraining, skills training, resume assistance, job search resources and more. One of the programs they tried to implement last year is offering a mileage reimbursement for residents who are placed at training programs in Santa Clara or other counties.
The center also provides services on site. On the morning of the anniversary celebration, a dozen residents were logged into computers in the lobby of the center where they can search for jobs online, e-mail prospective employers or work on a resume.
“They can come in and check their e-mail,” Arreola said. “They have CalJOBS (a state website listing jobs) access.”
Arreola said that one of the challenges for staff has been that many clients come in with a high level of stress.
“There is an elevated level of stress,” he said. “It certainly is a reality. They find themselves maybe losing their homes.”
He said that in recent years the center has seen more clients who have never had to file for unemployment before. They are equipped to offer referrals to other surfaces, such as the Community Food Bank or PG&E assistance for people struggling to pay bills.
The center works directly with employers as well. They offer pre-screening and referral for eligible applicants, testing and assessment services, unemployment insurance information, financial incentives for new workers, and rapid response and plant closure assistance.
Ofelia Orabuena said the center has been working with displaced workers from Life Spark, which closed its plant recently. They are retraining workers and helping them find new employment opportunities.
Rick Deraiche, the deputy division chief of the Employment Development Department, and Nancy Martin, the president and CEO or the Economic Development Corporation of San Benito County and the chair of the Workforce Investment Board, both emphasized the importance of partnerships in the community.
“We are providing employment training services through a single-delivery method,” Deraiche said. “It’s everybody together to work together for the common purpose of the customer.”
The on-site partners include SBC Community Services and Workforce Development, SBC Health and Human Services the Agency, the state department of rehabilitation, the state EDD, Peninsula Family Services, Central Coast Center for Independent Living, the South County Regional Occupational Programs, Veteran’s services and Gavilan College. Off-site partners include the Economic Development Corporation of San Benito County, the Small Business Development Center, Go Kids, Inc., the San Benito County Office of Education, San Benito High School and Anzar High School.
“It’s all about partnerships,” Martin said. “You can’t do anything alone. There is not enough time and not enough money.”
In the morning, before the 10-year anniversary event, the staff hosted an employer recognition breakfast to honor those businesses and agencies that have helped with local staff. More than 3,500 people have been trained by 150 employers and 50 vocational schools.
Special recognition was given to Community Food Bank for being an adult program employer; to Hollister Youth Alliance for being a youth program employer; to Fratelli Farms for being the newest employer involved; and to West Marine for being a long-standing employer.
“For a small community, training more than 2,500 people who lost jobs – think about the impact we’ve had in their lives,” Arreola said. “That in itself is the biggest accomplishment.”
Workforce board seeks members
The San Benito County Workforce Investment Board has openings for new board members from the private sector.
“The Workforce Investment Board has been pivotal in carrying this forth,” Arreola said, of the services offered at the One-Stop Career Center. “They set the policy and determine the focus.”
Business owners, chief executive officers, or managers with substantial responsibility are eligible to apply to be on the board. For more information on the Workforce Investment Board or other programs offered at the One-Stop Career Center, visit www.sbcjobs.org or call 637-9293.
