WHAT IT CAN DO FOR YOU

CETA

Private Industry Council

The Private Industry Council has been developed as a result of recent legislation by the Congress of the United

States. As part of the re-establishment of CETA the President and the Congress agreed to the institution of a Title VII, which has evolved the Private Sector Initiative Program. Literally, Prime Sponsors across the Country now have the responsibility to evolve a Private Industry Council, whose membership is comprised of at least 51% representation from the industrial community. The major responsibility of the Private Industry Council is to insure that the CETA system of labor supply is compatible with the demand as expressed by local industry. In Hampden County the Private Industry Council has been in operation

for less than one year and has proven already to be a very definite asset to the future of skills training programs. Private Industry Council leadership has been established by Herb Almgren, Shawmut First Bank, and Leon McGlauthlin, Westem Mass Electric Company, together with the administration of the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce. A major objective of the Private Industry Council is to assist the Hampden County Manpower Consortium in the completion of the Skills Center so that the private sector and the public sector can work together even more profitably and successfully.

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Hampden
County
Prime
Sponsor

The Hampden County Manpower Consortium is the CETA Prime Sponsor for the 23 cities and towns

which comprise Hampden County. The Consortium is responsible to administer all

CETA funding that
emanates with the United

States Department of
Labor. To effectuate the
on-going processes of the
Consortium, which involve

many thousands of
participants annually, there

has been established an Executive Committee, who, in collaboration with the Prime Sponsor Administrator, determine policy for all CETA-related activities. In addition to the skills training programs, the Consortium operates the Public Service Employment

program, the Summer Youth training component and a number of on-going youth projects.

CETA Center
Services

The Hampden County Manpower Consortium is responsible for the establishment of the CE Centers, one of which is housed in the new Skills Center at 140 Wilbraham

Avenue. The initial
relationship between the
potential participant and the
CETA system is established
within the Center. The staff
are totally professional and

very cognizant of their
major responsibilities to
provide each individual with
relevant information about
CETA programs throughout
Hampden County. Within
the CETA Center concept
there are a myriad of
services available to the
client, which include
counseling, occupational
information, job orientation
and occupational
assessment. In addition
the foregoing, there is a
the availability of current
data about other training

and services systems
throughout Hampden
County.

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Employment and Training

The Skills Center offers to each participant an in-depth program designed exclusively to meet the needs of the

participant. The first and perhaps most significant component of Skills Center activity is the Orientation and Assessment format. During this timeframe of 3-5 days the client is provided a number of hands-on and formal assessment batteries. The primary objective is to determine the most appropriate occupational cluster and to establish

further the needs for academic remediation and other supportive services. Subsequent to the completion of this mechanism a number of counseling sessions are convened

with the client in order to insure the evolvement of a ram that is compatible with the needs of the individual. Within the Skills Center there are available a minimum of fourteen occupational clusters, anyone of which might be appropriate for the client who has recently completed the

Assessment program. In addition to the occupational training, the Skills Center features a number of other components that include English-As-A-Second Language, high school equivalency, remedial education, vocational and personal counseling, job orientation, training-related programs of mathematics and blueprint reading and job development, placement and follow-up. The Skills Center

is successful in transitioning participants to the private sector due to its recognition that all of the participants' needs must be served.

World of
Work

The World of Work component, as instituted by Skills Center personnel, has

proven to be a major catalyst in the overall success pattern of Skills Center participants. As a result of the outstanding efforts that are made by the personnel in this services component, significant numbers of Skills Center graduates are provided greater opportunity for success in the local labor

market. The trainee commences activities within

the World of Work component at the same time that the occupational

cluster is established. Throughout the timeframe

that the participant is involved in occupational training at the Skills Center there is also established a minimum requirement of two hours each week in the World of Work mechanism.

Services Provided to Employers

people tested and assessed in classroom training and placed in jobs...

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Graphics

While developing competency and setting up and operating an offset press, including 2-color publicatio. trainees also establish skills and related photographic, layout and basic artistic techniques. This is accomplished during a 16-week occupational training phase. The program provides appropriate preparation for employment in several areas of the graphics industry.

Machine Occupations

The Machine Occupations program provides a tri-level approach, emanating with a Level I program of some 18 weeks and progressing through our second level of 23 weeks, which includes, in addition to the Basic Machine Occupations component, instruction in the areas of bridgeport, jig bore and numerical control The final phase is the Tool and Die program, which entails a 38-week training format and provides opportunity for the graduate to enter employment as a second-year apprentice.

Clerical

The Clerical program is operated at two levels, the first of which is a basic 18-week component designed to provide the participant the necessary skills to accept entry-level employment. For those who indicate additional potentials there are available a number of advanced skills, including stenography and bookkeeping and medical secretary.

Computer Technician

Sophisticated instruction in electronic computers and peripheral equipment, theory of operation and maintenance during 20-26 weeks that include computer terminology and introduction to programming, advanced integrated circuit theory and applications, mini-computer concepts and programming, and basic mini-computer theory and maintenance.

Electronics Assembly

Trainees acquire proficiencies that include soldering, identification of components, wire wrapping, wire cutting and stripping, color coding and the construction of modules by following a model accurately during a 12-week framework.