Workforce Services

Services for Job Seekers and Employers

Public Local Kern, Inyo and Mono (KIM) Services

Assistance with Job Search Services, Employer Services and General Unemployment Insurance Assistance:
- Bakersfield AJCC/WSB Phone Line (661) 336-6912
- E-mail WSBAJCCreferralKERN@edd.ca.gov

Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act

(WIOA) delivers a full array of services to employers, job and training seekers, youth, Unemployment Insurance (UI) claimants, veterans, migrant and seasonal farm workers and county residents. WIOA helps job seekers succeed in the workforce by providing access to employment, education, training, and support services while matching employers with the skilled workers that they need. Our Workforce Services participants may have all or part of their wages subsidized through these programs (Subsidized Employment or On-the-Job Training) for a limited time which allows employers the chance to build capacity and try out a new employee with little risk. Small businesses, organizations and non-profits that cannot afford to hire additional staff may benefit from limited-time, no-cost assistance while helping participants gain valuable work skills that they will use throughout their careers.

What We Do:

We pair employers with job seekers who are eager to learn a trade. We encourage apprenticeships.
Our program provides reimbursement to employers for costs associated with training based costs – typically 50% under a specialized grant. Once the employee completes 480 hours, we will pay the employer back half of all wages.
We facilitate the hiring process, manage and supervise work hours and take inventory of the applicant’s progress.

How To Get Started:

Under WIOA’s regulations the criteria for OJT and Apprenticeship are as follows:

The employee must be learning a new trade. The potential employee must not have any background in the position filled, but may have related experience. For example: the employee was once a server and would like to transition into a restaurant management position. Another example: the potential employee was once a Lift Operator and would like to transition into Snowmaking Operations. The goal of WIOA is to encourage employers to train employees into a trade/OJT position that will establish a career that will benefit the vested interest in both parties for continued success.
We draft the contract and make sure the employer receives all information necessary to begin the qualification process. This contract will contain all terms of the agreement for both employee and employer.
Call us! If you have someone in mind, we can help with that, too.
Call us! We can help pair you with the right candidate. Our goal is to promote growth and knowledge for the employee while protecting your vested interest so your business can be the best it can be. We can work out all the details, too.

We have a monthly newsletter for most of the job openings throughout the county. If you or someone you know would like to add themselves to our monthly job board email list, please have them email gwilliamson@mono.ca.gov and put "add me please" in the subject line. If you no longer wish to receive job search updates, then send an email to the same address and put "remove me please" in the subject line.

Welfare-to-Work

Welfare-to-Work (WTW) provides services to motivate, support and prepare families and individuals receiving public assistance (CalWORKS) to achieve self-sufficiency through employment.

All eligible CalWORKs recipients will receive an orientation into the Welfare-to-Work program. During the orientation participants will learn about the program, resources available in the community, exemptions, and other imperative information. The appraisal follows the orientation with an in-depth review of the participant's education and employment background.

Upon entering the Welfare-to-Work program most participants will sign an activity agreement for job readiness assistance in order to prepare the participant to seek employment. Job readiness provides training to learn or improve upon basic job seeking skills, to understand employer expectations, and to learn life skills needed to move toward self sufficiency.

These activities may include behavioral health, life skills classes, and job skills training, including preparing a resume or job application and learning and practicing interview skills.

Supportive services:

In addition to child care, transportation, and ancillary services, welfare-to-work supportive services include mental health, substance abuse, and domestic abuse services.

Behavioral Health

There are many things that make returning to work or new employment difficult. It is important for participants to identify and address barriers to employment and education while on the road to achieving self-sufficiency. CalWORKs recipients participating in Welfare-to-Work services are eligible to receive behavioral health services as a part of their activities, or as a job retention service. Mental health assessments, individual and group counseling, and support groups are available to Welfare-to-Work participants.

Drug & Alcohol

Drug and Alcohol assessments, as well as, treatment and case management services are available to Welfare-to-Work participants. Individualized treatment and recovery plans are created to meet the needs of the client.

Domestic Violence

Domestic Violence counseling, legal and advocate services, including case management, crisis intervention and the women’s shelter, are available to Welfare-to-Work participants.

HOW TO APPLY

There are several options available. You can request an application be mailed to you, pick one up at any of our county offices.