Tuesday, December 20, 2011

YouthBuild Kansas City, Kansas is now accepting applications for it's next cycle


YouthBuild Kansas City, Kansas is now accepting applications for it's next cycle. Applications can be picked up at the YouthBuild office located at 1821 N. 3rd St., Kansas City, KS. The application deadline is Friday, February 17th.

 

Enrollment for YouthBuild is a 4 step process.

1. Complete and return the Enrollment Application (please see attached)

2. Schedule a testing time

3. Attend Mental Toughness - a two week orientation/observation period to determine if a young person is ready for YouthBuild

4. Those who successfully complete Mental Toughness will be invited to participate in YouthBuild*

 

YouthBuild Kansas City, Kansas is a 15 month comprehensive, human development program providing education enrichment, construction skills and job training to at-risk young adults between the ages of 16 and 24. Kansas residents only.

 

Other services provided are:

Ø G.E.D. instruction classes

Ø Official Practice Test in preparation for their G.E.D. certificate.

Ø Integrated construction curriculum with a nationally recognized pre-apprenticeship certificate

Ø Life skills training

Ø Civic development and leadership

Ø Random drug testing

Ø Modest living allowance /stipend

Ø Other supportive services

Ø One year of follow up after program completion

 

*One important piece of information to consider - YouthBuild KCK is now part of a national study designed to learn the ways in which YouthBuild programs help young people complete their GED and High School diploma, gain vocational skills and find employment.

 

 

Not everyone interested in the program will be enrolled. Participation in the program will be based on, in part, a random selection process (much like drawing names from a hat). For this process, participants will be chosen at random without consideration of any personal characteristics, such as race or gender – everyone who goes through this random selection has an equal chance of getting invited to participate in the program.

 

Thank you for helping us spread the word. If you know of a young person who might be interested in YouthBuild, please have them stop by the office or contact us at 913-371-3770.

 

Chandra Ward

Executive Director

YouthBuild KCK

1821 North 3rd St.

Kansas City, KS  66101

913-371-3770

913-233-2933 (fax)

cward@youthbuildkck.org

Thursday, December 8, 2011

US Labor Department Proposes Historic Hiring Goal


The White House Thursday, December 8, 2011
 

Please see below and circulate. This proposed rule represents another extremely important step to improving employment opportunities for people with disabilities. The following press release comes from the Department Labor:

US Labor Department Proposes historic hiring goal for federal contractors and subcontractors

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor is proposing a new rule that would require federal contractors and subcontractors to set a hiring goal of having 7 percent of their workforces be people with disabilities, among other requirements. The department's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs invites public comment on this proposal, which will be published in the Dec. 9 edition of the Federal Register.

OFCCP's proposed rule would strengthen the affirmative action requirements established in Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 obligating federal contractors and subcontractors to ensure equal employment opportunities for qualified workers with disabilities. The proposed regulatory changes detail specific actions contractors must take in the areas of recruitment, training, record keeping and policy dissemination – similar to those that have long been required to promote workplace equality for women and minorities. In addition, the rule would clarify OFCCP's expectations for contractors by providing specific guidance on how to comply with the law.

"This proposed rule represents one of the most significant advances in protecting the civil rights of workers with disabilities since the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "President Obama has demonstrated a commitment to people with disabilities. This proposed rule would help federal contractors better fulfill their legal responsibility to hire qualified workers with disabilities."

Although Section 503 regulations have been in place for decades, the current unemployment rate for people with disabilities is 13 percent, 1 1/2 times the rate of those without disabilities. Even more discouraging, data published last week by the department's Bureau of Labor Statistics show stark disparities facing working-age individuals with disabilities, with 79.2 percent outside the labor force altogether, compared to 30.5 percent of those without disabilities.

"For nearly 40 years, the rules have said that contractors simply need to make a 'good faith' effort to recruit and hire people with disabilities. Clearly, that's not working," said OFCCP Director Patricia A. Shiu. "Our proposal would define specific goals, require real accountability and provide the clearest possible guidance for employers seeking to comply with the law. What gets measured gets done. And we're in the business of getting things done."

Establishing a 7 percent hiring goal for the employment of individuals with disabilities would be a tool for contractors to measure the effectiveness of their affirmative action efforts and thereby inform their decision-making. The proposed rule also would enhance data collection and record-keeping requirements – including for documentation and processing of requests for reasonable accommodation – in order to improve accountability. Additionally, it would ensure annual self-reviews of employers' recruitment and outreach efforts, and add a new requirement for contractors to list job openings to increase their pools of qualified applicants.

To read the notice of proposed rulemaking or submit a comment, visit the federal e-rulemaking portal at http://www.regulations.gov. Comments also can be submitted by mail to Debra Carr, Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, U.S. Department of Labor, Room C-3325, 200 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, D.C.  20210. All comments must be received by Feb. 7, 2012, and should include identification number (RIN) 1250-AA02.

In addition to Section 503, OFCCP enforces Executive Order 11246 and the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974. As amended, these three laws require those who do business with the federal government, both contractors and subcontractors, to follow the fair and reasonable standard that they take affirmative action and not discriminate in employment on the basis of sex, race, color, religion, national origin, disability or status as a protected veteran. For general information, call OFCCP's toll-free helpline at 800-397-6251 or visit its website at http://www.dol.gov/ofccp.

U.S. Department of Labor news materials are accessible at http://www.dol.gov.  The information above is available in large print, Braille, audio tape or disc from the COAST office upon request by calling 202-693-7828 or TTY 202-693-7755.

 

The White House • 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW • Washington, DC 20500 • 202-456-1111 

 

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Funding Opportunity Reminder: Support to build new or expanded public trails


Success Stories  |  Request for Proposals  |  About the Sunflower Foundation

REMINDER - The deadline to apply for Sunflower Trails funding is approaching!

 

Sunflower Trails (RFP 11-101) - This Request for Proposals (RFP) is designed to help improve the health of students, families and communities by offering support to build new or expanded public trails to increase the opportunity for physical activity.

 

Proposals in response to this RFP may be submitted through Thursday, January 5, 2012. Funding announcements will be made by Friday, February 17, 2012.

 

PLEASE NOTE THAT PROPOSALS MUST BE SUBMITTED USING THE FOUNDATION'S ONLINE APPLICATION.

 

Click here for complete RFP details and application instructions. A document summarizing the General Criteria for Sunflower Trails Grants is available here.

 

As there will be no additional telephone conference call briefings scheduled prior to the submission deadline, potential applicants are encouraged to contact foundation staff prior to submission with any questions regarding the RFP or the online application process.

1200 SW Executive Drive, Suite 100    Topeka, KS   |   toll free 866.232.3020   |   info@sunflowerfoundation.org 


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