Employment services include: job search assistance, subsidized work activities, financial assistance for persons who have obtained or are seeking work, and Tribal Employment Rights Ordinance (TERO) advocacy to Bering Strait regional residents and tribal members. Kawerak provides training grants and college scholarships to tribal members. Clients can list themselves in the regional Job Databank for potential employment opportunities. Temporary subsidized work activities are available for youth and adults to provide job skill training. Village-based training programs are also offered throughout the Bering Strait region as funding permits.
Services within Employment & Training include:
- Direct Employment Assistance
The Direct Employment (DE) Program is a one-time grant that
is available to eligible tribal members who reside in the Bering
Strait Region. These grants are for employment related and initial
living expenses that are essential for the applicant to transition
to full-time employment.
- Higher Education Scholarships
The HE program provides semester and quarterly scholarships
to tribal members of the Bering Strait region that are enrolled
at an accredited college or university. Students must maintain
a 2.0 grade point average for successive scholarships. Scholarships
are provided to the school and are applied toward books, fees,
tuition and other academic costs.
- Kawerak Employment Enhancement Program
and Work Experience
The purpose of these programs is to provide participants the
opportunity to gain work experience, promote good work ethics
and provide a public service to their community. In addition,
they provide a transition from public assistance to employment.
Participants work in an employment setting in a temporary, six-month
position at a rate of $13.50 per hour, and are monitored biweekly
for successful job performance. The KEEP and WE programs are
based on income eligibility.
- Supportive Services
This WIA-based program is for Alaska Native and Native American
tribal members who are residents of the Bering Strait region
and require assistance to secure employment or complete employability
objectives. These may include, but are not limited to: transportation
to and from a training or job site, tools and materials for a
job, housing assistance for persons attending training away from
their permanent residence, work and safety essentials, initial
union dues, personal appearance, glasses, and other necessary
needs. Other sources of funding may be explored as needed. Follow-up
support may be extended for one month, or as needed, after a
participant has been employed or has completed other objectives.
- Village Based Training
In 2001, Kawerak began the implementation of village-based carpentry
and heavy equipment training programs. These two-to-four-week
programs are designed for apprentices who are registered by the
Federal Department of Labor. Each training program uses a standard
curriculum that is approved by the National Center for Construction
Education and Research (NCCER). Participants earn college-credit
through Northwest College/University of Alaska. Training programs
are not limited to carpentry and heavy equipment, and are determined
on a village-by-village basis. Participant eligibility may vary
for each program.
- Vocational Training Assistance
Vocational Training grants are available to drug-free tribal
members of the Bering Strait region who need financial assistance
to attend vocational training. This may include tuition, airfare,
rent or groceries. training assistance is supplemental to all
other financial resources.
- Youth Opportunities
Kawerak provides various services to youth throughout the Bering
Strait region. The Youth Opportunity (YO!) Program is working
to minimize the unemployment rate of Alaskans ages 14-23. The
mission of the YO! Program is to promote self-esteem and self-determination
through a culturally appropriate program of education, training,
occupational experience and related services for youth. Facilities
under the Youth Opportunity centers are currently established
in the communities of Savoonga, Gambell, Shishmaref, and Stebbins.
The Kawerak Summer Youth Program (SYP) provides supervised work
experience with local employers to tribally enrolled youth ages
14 to 21 who live in the Bering Strait region communities and
who meet income guidelines. This program benefits both youth
and employers in building our future regional workforce.
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