Resolution Mediation

KEARNEY — An education and training agency in Kearney helps people help themselves.

Arbor Education and Training at 3810 Ave. A, Suite G provides jobseekers an opportunity to contribute to society through gainful employment. It serves jobseekers, current workers and employers.

Participants in Arbor are referred by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. They enter a program designed to make them more marketable to potential employers.

Marie Rodriguez is a job developer at Arbor. “Basically, the programming we do here is provide services for participants to get back into the work force,” Rodriguez, said. “We help break barriers to employment.”

Instructors at Arbor give presentations on successful job skills, the experience of being employed, how to resolve conflict and how to develop a support network in case of emergency.

Kayleigh Dawson teaches a skill-building class at Arbor. Class participants learn to put together a resume and write cover letters to potential employers. Dawson also teaches job interviewing, conflict resolution, customer service and networking skills. Dawson said her class teaches participants “all of those things that will help them develop life skills and get them ready to go to work.”

The lessons focus on teaching participants how to be respectful, cooperate, resolve conflict, maintain a positive attitude, pay attention, stay on task, stay motivated and achieve

satisfaction. There are also tips on clothing and appearance.

“Our dress code is to be ready for an interview at any time,” Dawson said. “It helps them (participants) be more productive and feel more confident about themselves.”

Dawson has a special connection with Arbor that goes beyond that of an employee. She was once a participant in the program when she was looking for a job.

“I was a single, stressful mother trying to go to school and find a job,” she said. She said she became more responsible, knowing what employers are looking for. “I came out of it more prepared.”

Marie Rodriguez, a job developer at Arbor, is proud of what Dawson has achieved.

“She’s one of our success stories,” Rodriguez said. “It was very easy to recommend her for a position (at Arbor) when it came open.”

Part of Rodriguez’s job is to find work experience for those who lack it. Through the Work Experience Program, participants are placed in positions that require no monetary obligation by an employer.

Arbor consultants work with the employer and the participant to help them benefit mutually. Arbor works to ensure a WEP placement does not fill a vacancy nor displace a regular employee.

Another Arbor utility is the On The Job Training Program. OJT participants are hired by an employer full time. Their wages are partially re-imbursemed during the training period. The employer agrees to retain the employee permanently, as long as the employee meets expectations.

Arbor also teaches participants how to hunt for jobs, including looking online, in the newspaper classified employment section and through networking with others who might help them.

The most important issue Arbor helps participants deal with is the stress of looking for a job.

“Life is what you make of it,” Dawson said. “You can think of things negatively or positively. You’re going to be lot more successful if you think positively.”

“We try to be as supportive as we can to the individuals,” Rodriguez said. “We know that, maybe, we’re the only one that day who told them they did a good job, they look nice, and that they can do it. That’s what’s important.”

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