Transcript Colorado*s Paradigm Shift in Refugee Employment Services

Colorado’s
Paradigm Shift
in Refugee
Employment Services
Hillary Prag: State of Colorado Refugee
Services Program
Marzia Kaka: Lutheran Family Services
Colorado Dashboard
Demographic Data

Between 1.5%-1.9% of refugees resettling in U.S. come to Colorado.
 1797 in 2012
 2199 in 2013

Current largest populations: Burmese populations, Bhutanese, Iraqis, East and
Central Africans

Refugees are resettled in Denver metropolitan area as well as Colorado Springs
and Ft. Collins.
Employment Data


Entered Employment Rate
 68% in 2012
 72% in 2013
90 Day Retention Rate: 88%
 69.64% of jobs are outside meat packing and hotels
2014 Goal: 75%
2014 Goal: 90%
2014 Goal: 70%
Old Model (mirrors
education system)
Intake
Assessment
Training
Placement
Based on the
professional
consultation
from Allen
Anderson and
the Dover
Training Group
& Employment
Management
Professionals
company.
www.dtgemp.com
New Model
Intake and
referral
from career
counselor
of all
clients
Preparation
Activities
(Cultural
Orientation,
ESL, Job
Club)
Step 1: Arrival
Intake and
assessment
from career
counselor
of all
clients
Step 2: Assessment
Intake and
assessment
from career
counselor of all
clients
Motivated,
Reliable,
Dependable
(MRD)?
• Look for signs of reflective
thinking rather than
impulsive thinking.
• Ask for a story from the past
that elicits proof of these three
things.
Skills Practice: Assess MRD and
Elicit the Proof
Name:
Gender:
Age:
Country of Origin:
Date of Arrival:
Level of English:
Pascal
Male
19
DRC
1 week ago
Basic
Skills Practice: Assess MRD and
Elicit the Proof
Name:
Gender:
Age:
Country of Origin:
Date of Arrival:
Level of English:
Genet
Female
39
Eritrea
4 weeks ago
Basic
Skills Practice: Assess MRD and
Elicit the Proof
Name:
Gender:
Age:
Country of Origin:
Date of Arrival:
Level of English:
Leh Meh
Female
46
Burma
1 week ago
Basic
Step 3: Referral
Intake and
referral
from career
counselor
of all
clients
If
no, they
remain in
preparation
activities until
they become
MRD
Preparation
Activities
(Cultural
Orientation,
ESL, Job
Club)
Motivated, Reliable,
Dependable (MRD)?
yes
If
, they
move to job
development
Step 4: Job Development
• Determine placement strategies
• Work the hidden market for job
openings
• Set up appointments with new
employers
• Assess the employer’s needs
• Match candidates according to
those needs
• Sell the candidates you have
chosen
• Follow up to support the employer
Intake and
referral
from career
counselor
of all
clients
Preparation
Activities
(Cultural
Orientation,
ESL, Job
Club)
Skills Focus: Consultative
Selling
• What are the components of
your first engagement with
an employer?
• What do you put the most
importance on?
Tomorrow 10:45am
“Messaging refugee services
to external partners: Beyond a
strengths-based approach and into a
business strategy”
Key skills:
• Getting past, “no thank you”
• Sustaining continued partnerships