Outreach Specialists

The Workforce Career and Education Program provides career services to school districts, grades 6th - 12th, in Hidalgo, Starr and Willacy Counties.

WE SERVE:

STUDENTS AND PARENTS

TEACHERS AND COUNSELORS

REGION LEVEL STAFF ADMINISTRATORS

WE CAN EQUIP YOU WITH:

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WE TAILOR PRESENTATIONS FOR: WE CAN DELIVER CONTENT:

CLASSROOMS COLLABORATIVELY

SMALL GROUPS INTERACTIVELY

LARGE ASSEMBLIES OR AS A LECTURE

Contact an Outreach Specialist for more information

Armando Benavides

McAllen ISD

Mission ISD

Hidalgo ISD

Edinburg CISD

Rio Grande City Grulla ISD

Roma ISD

San Isidro ISD

La Joya ISD

Guadalupe Lozano

Raymondville ISD

Lyford ISD

San Perlita ISD

Lasara ISD

Edcouch ISD

Irene Garcia

Progresso ISD

Weslaco ISD

Donna ISD

Mercedes ISD

PSJA ISD

La Villa ISD

JOB READINESS CURRICULUM

“85% of one’s success at the workplace is attributed to soft skills, and only 15% to technical skills”_- Harvard Study

The Workforce Solutions Job Readiness Curriculum is a 10 module, 40-hour soft skills training to help prepare individuals for success in the workplace. Soft skills are interpersonal and relationship-building skills that go beyond technical skills. These skills are essential to getting a job and keeping it.

The modules consist of the following topics:

☐ Job Search	☐ Workplace Etiquette	☐ Financial Literacy
☐ Interview Skills	☐ Time Management	☐ Critical Thinking
☐ Customer Services	☐ Coping With Stress	☐ Self-Advocacy
☐ Active Listening	☐ Transition Resources	☐ Career Exploration
	☐ Problem Solving & Conflict Resolution

Download Job Readiness Curriculum

CAREER SELFIE BOARDS

The best way to learn is through interaction. Workforce Solutions has selfie boards of different careers for use at job fairs and other career exploration events. Schools may request the use of these boards by emailing Flor Leal at flor@wfsolutions.org. Schools also have the option of downloading these images to create their own selfie boards.

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To download images click here

Texas Workforce Commission Links	Downloadable Resources	Labor Market Information Links	Tutorial Videos
Career Check	Navigation Workbook	ONET	Texas Reality Check - Occupational Calculator
Reality Check	High School Workbook	Bureau of Labor Statistics	Texas Reality Check - Lifestyle Calculator
Texas CREWS	Middle School Workbook	Texas LMI	Texas Reality Check - Quick View Calculator
Texas Oncourse		Texas Wages	Texas Career Check - School Information
Jobs Y’All		Texas Labor Analysis	Texas Career Check - Programs of Study
Texas Internship Challenge		Request LMI Reports
Texas Work Prep

Financial Aid

Once you know the career you want to pursue, our staff can help you figure out how to pay for any training or education you may need. We can help you complete a budget, then determine your eligibility and help you apply for different types of financial aid opportunities such as:

Pell Grants - federal grants that do not have to be repaid. They are only awarded to undergraduate students who have not earned a bachelor's or professional degree. The maximum Pell Grant for the 2015-2016 award year is $5,775. The amount you receive will depend on your financial resources, the cost of attendance, whether you’re a full or part time student, and whether you attend school for a full academic year or less. You may receive only one Pell Grant in an award year, and you may not receive Pell Grant funds from more than one school at a time. To learn more, visit one of our six locations and speak to our staff or visit the financial aid website at www.fafsa.ed.gov
Individual Training Accounts - Workforce Solutions regularly analyzes the regional labor market, looking for industry and occupational trends. Based on this analysis, we have identified a list of targeted occupations that are in demand or are emerging in the local economy. To see which occupations Workforce Solutions supports with its dollars, click here or here. Individuals who receive training and educational support from Workforce Solutions must use a training provider and program in our Eligible Training Provider System.

Visit one of our five WFS Offices to apply for financial aid. Although the specific items needed can vary, some of the common documents and information we ask for include:

Social Security card
Photo identification, such as driver’s license, passport, or other government issued document
Birth Certificate or Alien Registration Card indicating right to work or citizenship
Pay stubs, tax returns, or other documentation showing how much money you make or made
Lay off notices or letters if you’ve recently been laid off or lost a job due to the business closing.

Our staff will ask you to fill out an application and provide us with the documents listed above that support your family income and your work status. View our Locations page to find the WFS Office nearest to you.

Workforce Solutions is able to offer limited financial assistance to qualified and selected individuals for job training or other educational purposes through funding by the Workforce Investment Opportunity Act (WIOA). Assistance may be for tuition, books, fees, and certain approved supplies, but will depend on your individual situation. You will need to have the resources for the basic needs of living while attending training or school. You must attend full time and should; therefore, carefully consider how to meet your basic living needs.

Interested in Training?

Has the cost of earning your degree kept you from going back to school? Have child care expenses kept you from pursuing your career? Workforce Solutions may be able to help! Get started in a high-demand career and gain industry-recognized credentials in a matter of weeks! Fill out the following form, and a career advisor will contact you to discuss available opportunities. Look for a confirmation email from us in the mailbox you provided.

Fill Out Form

For featured programs, see below:

WIOA Youth and Adult Training Programs

Choose from a list of trainings for many of the target occupations available right here in the Rio Grande Valley. Earn your certificate in as little as three months and start earning the money you deserve!

To learn more and find out if you qualify, please connect with the Workforce Solutions office nearest to you. To schedule an appointment, please click the "Schedule Appointment" button at the top of the page or call (956) 687-1121. Visit the Eligible Training Provider System here or click here. You can also send an e-mail to info@wfsolutions.org for more information on any program.

E3: Empower - Educate - Employ

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The E3 Program is a unique and innovative approach to providing WIOA Youth Services with a mission to ensure youth have access to the support, information, and learning opportunities to succeed in the 21^stcentury economy. E3 means to:

Empower our Youth by identifying barriers early and providing resources in the form of support services, mentoring, and developing cooperative Individual Service Strategies to begin overcoming barriers to their desired career paths.

Youth entering our E3 program may or may not have ideas or goals as to what they want for their future careers. Our Career Counselors and Youth Facilitators are there to guide the participant from beginning to new beginnings using individualized, customizable Employment Plans and assessments to discover career paths and also measure strengths and interests towards those paths that appeal most to the Youth. Mentoring services, referrals to community partner agencies, and support services (based on eligibility and availability of funds) can help identify and address barriers to success. The basics of labor market information are explained so the participating Youth can learn more about the careers they interested in and their potential.

Educate our Youth to better understand workplace and career expectations using a curriculum based on secondary school or dropout recovery services, financial literacy, postsecondary preparation, job skills development, and technology-based learning tools.

People, especially the Youth we service, have moments in their lives where decisions need to be made and guidance is needed. We can help with this while the Youth begins participation in the program and starts to earn a paycheck. Through our updated Job Readiness curriculum, we can help with how make informed employment or education decisions and develop workplace skills that will help throughout the course of their careers. On-demand high impact local industries such as healthcare and public safety along with job search and interview strategies are discussed in a classroom setting. Jobsites are explored using specialized VR sessions that have the Youth immerse themselves into workplaces they are interested in. Leadership and community engagement qualities are enriched by participation in community service projects across Hidalgo, Willacy, and Starr counties.

Employ our Youth by exposing them to relevant labor market information, meaningful work-based learning opportunities such as paid work experience, and job development activities to continue successfully along their desired career paths.

The work experience component of our program is a culmination of our ultimate goal for the E3 program: that Youth have the information, support, and opportunities needed to succeed in the 21^stcentury economy. At this point, Career Counselor and Youth Facilitator staff members have already engaged the Youth with customized labor market information specific to their skill sets and career path interest. Youth will be placed in relevant jobsites in order to gain valuable experience in a real world setting and earn a paycheck as well. Skills learned during our Job Readiness courses are put to use in meaningful ways and constant communication is kept between all parties to ensure maximum success. Upon completion of the program, we keep in touch and follow up with our Youth to provide guidance and assist however possible with the growing amount of opportunities that are available across the Lower Rio Grande Valley.

Education and Training

Workforce Solutions knows what tools you need to get a job, keep a job, and find a better job. Assistance for job search, work, and educational expenses are available for those who qualify. Chat with our staff online to determine your qualification, or fill out this quick form and a representative will contact you to discuss available opportunities.

Workforce Solutions can refer you to a community partner who offers the following types of training:

Basic Skills – GED preparation, English as a Second Language, job readiness and general computer literacy training (ex: Microsoft Office Products).

Occupational Skills Training – courses or programs that will prepare an individual for a job specific occupation and provide them with an industry recognized credential.

For more information please call, toll-free, (888) 261-3286 or e-mail info@wfsolutions.org.

Additional resources:

Interested in Training?

Get started in a high-demand career and gain industry-recognized credentials in a matter of weeks! Simply fill out the following form, and a career advisor will contact you to discuss available opportunities. Look for a confirmation email from us in the mailbox you provided.

Fill Out Form

TEA Offers Graduation Toolkit to Students, Parents, School Counselors

The Texas Education Agency, in collaboration with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and Texas Workforce Commission, has a graduation toolkit for students, parents and school counselors available at their website. The TEA-produced brochures linked below are available for download and printing by school districts and the general public. A more extensive list of TEA publications is available at the TEA Publications Division.

The 2016 Graduation Toolkit (PDF, 1MB) provides details about the Foundation High School Program, benefits and explanation of the Distinguished Level of achievement option, endorsement choices, checklists and resources.

El Manual de Herramientas 2016 (PDF, 626 KB) para graduarse ofrece información detallada acerca del Programa Básico/Fundamental, de los beneficios y explicaciones de la opción del Nivel de Desempeño Destacado, de la elección de especialidades, de las listas de verificación y de distintos recursos disponibles.

Jobs and Education for Texas (JET) Grant Overview

The Jobs and Education for Texans (JET) grant program allocates $10 million each biennium to defray start-up costs associated with the development of career and technical education programs to public community and technical colleges, and independent school districts. Formerly under the direction of the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, legislation passed by the 84th Texas Legislature transferred oversight of the state-funded program to the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC). For more information regarding eligibility criteria and how to apply visit the following link: https://twc.texas.gov/partners/jobs-education-texans-jet-grant-program