Employment services

Employment services are a primary focus for many of the CONNECT! partners. Several of these organizations are able to provide funding for training under specific programs.

• Employment Development Department – EDD serves both employers who want to fill job openings and individuals seeking employment through CalJOBS, an online job and resume bank that lists thousands of job openings and the largest pool of candidates in the state. EDD staff provide services full-time in the CONNECT! Job Seeker Center, including specialized employment services for veterans. Under the Trade Adjustment Assistance Act, EDD assists individuals who have lost their jobs due to increased imports or companies moving out of the country and these individuals may receive funds for retraining.
  
  
• NOVA – NOVA staff are available full time in the Job Seeker Center to assist customers with job search activities including career advisor appointments, resume critique, and a variety of job search workshops. NOVA also offers re-employment and re-training under a number of grant-funded programs for specific populations including dislocated workers, low-income adults, those receiving public assistance within the past year, and low-income or at-risk youth. In addition, NOVA offers a wide range of services for the business community, including outplacement services, employee training and retention programs, placement and recruiting, and labor market information.

Partner programs that offer employment services for targeted populations:

• Employment Connection of Santa Clara County serves current or former CalWORKs participants who are involved full time in professional improvement and job search activities.
• Next Step Center provides vocational, employment, training and support services, and transitional housing to veterans with multiple and significant barriers to employment.
• NOVA Youth Employment Office provides career development and employment services for youth ages 14 to 24.
• ProMatch, the Silicon Valley Chapter of Experience Unlimited, is a partnership of EDD and NOVA. This program, located at the Job Seeker Center, provides interactive career development services for Silicon Valley professionals conducting an active job search.
• Proven People provides job referrals for individuals age 55 and over. Job listings include full and part-time positions and long or short-term opportunities.
• Springboard Forward bridges the gap between employers who need entry level employees and qualified job seekers from low-income communities who are traditionally overlooked.

Partners providing employment services for individuals with disabilities:

• California Department of Rehabilitation works with individuals of every type and category of disability and provides vocational rehabilitation services to eligible Californians.
• Community Options specializes in employment services for people with developmental disabilities providing supported employment and integrated employment options.
• HOPE Services offers a broad range of employment and job training programs for individuals with developmental disabilities.
• Momentum for Mental Health specializes in helping individuals with psychiatric disabilities and other barriers return to the workforce.
• Project HIRED offers employment services for clients with a diverse spectrum of disabilities and matches individuals to temporary (through HIRED Temps) and permanent positions.
• Sensory Access Foundation assists individuals who are blind or severely visually impaired maintain or obtain employment.
• Services for Brain Injury helps brain-injured people attain their highest level of independent functioning and assists with employment when they are work-ready.
• Silicon Valley Independent Living Center provides vocational preparation and placement services to persons with disabilities.
• TransAccess specializes in preparing individuals with disabilities for competitive employment through computer access technology and career transition services.

Education and training organizations

• Adult Education Programs offer seven state-mandated programs including adult basic skills (literacy), citizenship, English as a second language (ESL), high school education programs, vocational education, parent education and programs for older adults. In addition, they offer community interest classes for personal enrichment. Three adult education programs are active CONNECT! partners:

  • Mountain View-Los Altos Adult Education
  • Santa Clara Adult Education
  • Sunnyvale-Cupertino Adult-Community Education
  

• Community colleges offer programs for transfer to a four-year college, career education programs, remedial or "catch-up" programs for students who lack a strong educational background, and continuing education for cultural growth, life enrichment, and skills improvement. Four Community Colleges are partners:

  • De Anza College
  • Foothill College
  • Mission College
  • West Valley College

Community College programs that participate as CONNECT! partners:

• The Occupational Training Institute (OTI) Foothill and De Anza Colleges, prepares individuals for meaningful employment. OTI serves a diverse population including clients with many barriers to employment.
  
• Professional & Workforce Development of the Foothill-De Anza Community College District provides customized training. Two additional centers under the umbrella of this program expand the resources for business. The Center for Applied Competitive Technologies(CACT) offers on-site, customized training and workshops to manufacturers from Santa Cruz to Mendocino counties. The Silicon Valley Small Business Development Center (SVSBDC) provides technical assistance and consulting services at no cost to any small business within Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties that grossed $5 million or less the previous year.

• San Jose Job Corps is a federally funded education and vocational training program that serves low-income, 16-24 year old young adults.
  
• National Council on the Aging (NCOA) Workforce Resource Center offers on-the-job training in nonprofit and public agencies to low-income individuals 55 years of age and older.
  
• University of California Extension, Santa Cruz is the continuing education arm of the University of California. The central service of extension is lifelong education for the workforce with an emphasis on adult professionals.

• Consumer Credit Counseling Services
  Consumer Credit Counseling Services is a non-profit, community agency dedicated to helping people use credit wisely and learn how to better manage their money.
• Housing Authority of Santa Clara County is a public agency with cooperative agreements with the City of San Jose and County of Santa Clara. The agency administers federal funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for public housing and the Section 8 rent-subsidy program. The target recipients are clients below the 50% median-income range. Additionally, the Housing Authority builds and manages low-income complexes through a variety of funding sources.
  
• Sunnyvale Public Library, located across the parking lot from the CONNECT! Job Seeker Center, is a state-of-the-art public library that offers a full array of resources for both the job seeker and business customer.