SER-Jobs for Progress, Inc.

Program Descriptions:

The Secure Jobs Initiative

The Secure Jobs Initiative is the result of a partnership between SER-Jobs, the Justice Resource Institute (JRI), the Southcoast Regional Network to End Homelessness (SOCO), and the Bristol County Workforce Investment Board (WIB) and Career Centers of Bristol County (CCBC).

The Initiative will serve 85 formerly homeless heads of household who are currently participating in the HomeBASE Program in Fall River, New Bedford, Taunton and Attleboro, and are ready, willing and able to work. The goal of the Initiative is to aide these individuals in attaining long-term employment.

Insurance Customer Service Program

The Insurance Customer Service Program is a full-time program offered through SERs Licensed Business School. Participants must have a High School Diploma or GED. This program is designed to provide hands-on practice applications. Coverage will be discussed and practiced in an account-rounding exposure analysis method. It also includes 80 hours of internship.

Child Care Services

SER-Jobs for Progress prides itself in providing on-site childcare services to the children of participants who attend classes and programs at the agency during the day.The child center serves children from 2 months to 6 years of age.

Adult Basic Education

The Adult Basic Education Program provides several components including G.E.D. preparation, English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), Civics Preparation, and Computer Literacy. ESOL classes improve participants language skills. G.E.D. classes prepare students for the high school diploma equivalency test. The Adult Basic Education Program serves students 16 years of age and older from the Greater Fall River Area.

Young Parents Program

This program with sites in Fall River and Taunton provides G.E.D. preparation, parenting skills, and vocational guidance to young parents between 14 and 21 years of age who are on public assistance and are seeking self-sufficiency. The program provides all materials, transportation, and free childcare on or off the premises.

C.I.E.S. Program

(Comprehensive Integrated Employment Services)

The C.I.E.S. Program places capable, individuals on public assistance into permanent, full-time employment. This program assists employers in hiring participants and provides them with a suitable training environment. SERs goal is to efficiently transition our students to the workforce using the principles of increasing responsibility, close supervision, and peer support.

Family Literacy Evening Program

This program serves the school-aged children of our evening adult students. The youngsters receive the academic support necessary to succeed in their respective elementary schools and meet the competencies designated by the Department of Education reforms.

United Way Program

The objective of the United Way Program is to provide job seeking skills and job seeking services to all individuals who are entering the labor market for the first time or are unemployed and wish to reenter the labor force.

Students learn skills such as: Interviewing, Resume Writing, Career Counseling, and filling out job applications. Participants also receive Labor Market information and Analysis, and G.E.D. and Citizenship training if applicable.

Southeastern Massachusetts SER-Jobs for Progress, Inc. is an affiliate of SER-Jobs for Progress National, Inc., based in Dallas, Texas. Through the years, the SER-Jobs network of organizations has devoted itself to offering employment services, upgrading job skills and increasing business and economic opportunities for minority communities and other disadvantaged people. SER-Jobs in Southeastern Massachusetts is a community-based organization that originally began as a school-to-work transition program in 1979, but has since grown to meet the changing needs of its community.