Narrative: a. 3.

Louisiana SCSEP coordinators will work to establish more classroom training and community service assignments relative to employment opportunities mentioned in Section 1 and Section 2 of this plan.  Past experience, in meeting with host agencies and employers, was to discuss skills, areas that were lacking in their companies, and seek suggestions and specific training ideas to overcome these deficiencies.  Concentration would be on increasing the level of participant skills in those areas and promote those ready participants to those employers.  Louisiana has been most successful in placing participants in unsubsidized employment with community service agencies and service-oriented type industries.  Those jobs such as custodial work, maintenance, stock clerks, office workers, receptionists, child care, drivers, retail sales and housekeeping have proven to be the most successful for long-term employment.  This will be a continued objective. 

Most enrollees need assistance with job search, supportive services, and skills training.  This brings about issues with self-esteem, lack of confidence and other insecurities.  SCSEP staff will work closely with SCSEP participants to overcome these barriers by tailoring plans to the individual’s needs.  They will work to foster self-esteem and confidence in the enrollee to help them become more competitive in the job market so they will secure unsubsidized employment. By placing them in appropriate training positions, it will stimulate them cognitively and by enrolling them in educational programs, it will promote better brain fitness.  This will maximize their marketability.  Past trends show that many host agencies eventually hire their assigned SCSEP participants and the job retention rates are higher which indicates that successful training and preparation is the key.