Refugee Employment and Training Services (RET)

 

Getting refugees, asylees and Cuban/Haitian Humanitarian Parolees into employment is a key to their successful integration into American society. Refugee Employment Services help meet the short and long-term goals of each program participant. Employment specialists and job developers help refugees find jobs as quickly as possible, then provide additional training and counseling to help them advance to better jobs or to resume careers they had before coming to the U.S.

RET program is funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Refugee Resettlement and administered through the Florida’s Department of Children and Families – Office of Refugee Services. Services are available for five years following the arrival of the eligible program participant in the U.S. and divided into three categories:

  1. Pre-employment work adjustment counseling services to help refugees get a first job as early as possible after arrival in the U.S. These services include:

  • Job readiness preparation including orientation, case management, interviewing, resume writing, and social skills;

  • Pre-employment counseling and job skills training to help refugees become employable;

  • Job counseling, job search assistance, and placement to help refugees find full-time jobs;

  • Referrals for on-the-job training

  • Referrals to English-language instruction for refugees who need English to get a job;

  • Reimbursement for certain transportation and child care expenses that must be paid in order to take part in pre-employment activities;

  1. Post-employment services to help employed members of refugee families move from first jobs to higher level jobs with better incomes and benefits. Program Participants are eligible to receive the following services:

  • Post-employment counseling for career advancement;

  • Post-employment training in specific marketable skills that will lead to a better job;

  • Post-employment English language instruction for refugees who have jobs;

  • Follow-up with employers;

  1. Career laddering services to assists refugees who were in a professional career in their country of origin obtain the education and employment in the same or similar field; Services include:

  • Individuals with proof of professional credentials and experience form the country of origin receive skills determination, evaluation of educational degrees and English literacy and speaking ability;

  • Referral to vendors approved for official translations and assessments of the credentials;

  • Development of an individualized Career Laddering assessment and the plan

  • Referrals to on-the-job training program; employed worker training, internships, work experience programs and apprenticeships;

  • Job placement services and job upgrading services;

  • Follow up with employers;

Youth Co-Op offers RET services in Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties. Click here for service locations and directions to the closest Youth Co-Op RET site.

For more information about RET services please contact us at refugees@ycoop.org or (305) 643-6730

 

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