ReTRAIN serves a diverse range of individuals who need new skills and an opportunity to succeed. Most trainees find their way to ReTRAIN’s programs via word of mouth, community social service and rehabilitation agencies, and local schools. Staff work closely with these agencies and the trainees themselves to ensure that individual needs are accommodated while high standards are maintained. Since 1991, ReTRAIN has served more than 750 individuals in three main program areas: YouthBuild, Apprentice-style and Work Experience.

YouthBuild

ReTRAIN’s YouthBuild program serves 16- to 24-year-old youth in Chittenden and Washington counties who have dropped out of high school and need a comprehensive development and job training opportunity. Youth are trained in construction skills while building affordable housing, learning energy efficiency skills, and working alongside ReBUILD’s Deconstruction Service.

An exciting addition to the YouthBuild program is the Weatherization training program. ReTRAIN is operating two WX YouthBuild programs, one in Burlington and one in Barre, to train 28 at-risk youth in the weatherization and energy efficiency fields while they earn their high school diploma or GED. The Weatherization program will improve the energy efficiency and safety of approximately 150 homes in 2009/2010 program year.

A second significant change in the YouthBuild program occurred in direct response to the needs and abilities of the students. ReTRAIN YouthBuild lengthened the program from eight to ten months, and instead of enrolling six students three times per year, will enroll 10 students twice a year in Burlington and 8 students in Barre. As part of the new YouthBuild structure, on any given day, ten students will be in the classroom, six will be on affordable housing construction job site, 10 will be on a Weatherization crew, and two others will be on an independent placement with an outside employer or in another part of ReTRAIN (deconstruction service, appliance training, computer systems training, retail management training, or office administration training). YouthBuild students will rotate through the different work site placements with six months spent on an affordable housing construction job site, two months with weatherization, and two months on the independent placement.

To view and print a YouthBuild application, go to: http://www.resourcevt.org/publicdocs/ReTRAIN YouthBuild Application Revised 09.pdf
 

For more on ReTRAIN YouthBuild, email: info.youthbuild@retrainvt.org

Apprentice-style

ReTRAIN’s six-month Apprentice-style training program serves individuals who are ready to work but need marketable job skills and work credentials for their desired career. Some applicants have been unemployed or under-employed; others are skilled in other trades but are retraining because their jobs have disappeared due to downsizing or relocation, or need new skills after suffering an occupational injury. All Apprentice-style trainees meet with a classroom instructor twice a week. Because of their integration into the daily life of ReTRAIN, trainees gain not only technical knowledge, but vital customer service and teamwork experience.

ReTRAIN provides comprehensive training opportunities through its expanded outreach efforts to include a wider array of potential employers to train participants in four departments: 1. Office Administration Program: Trainees in the Office Administration program are placed in the reception and office administration area at ReSOURCE. Training includes keyboarding, Access, MS Outlook, MS Word, and MS Excel. Trainees are involved in all aspects of running the office, supporting staff, and handling customer questions both in person and on the phone. 2. Retail Management and Customer Service: Trainees in Retail Management and Customer Service spend time in two different retail environments – the ReSTORE and ReBUILD’s Building Material retail store. In both areas they interact with customers, manage inventory, set up displays, set pricing, and learn to run the cash register and point of sale system (POS). 3. Major Appliance Repair: Trainees in Major Appliance work on all brands of washers, dryers, stoves (electric and gas), washing machines, and air conditioners that are donated to ReSOURCE. In addition to working in the repair shop, they make customer service calls, learn to interact with customers and to do billing. All trainees take the AHAM/NARDA refrigerant recovery certification exam which is recognized in all 50 states. If possible, trainees co-enroll in both Natural Gas and LP Gas Certification courses offered locally. Depending on a trainee’s interest, they may take additional courses in AC, or HVAC with partnering institutions. 4. Computer Technology: Trainees in Computer Technology get hands-on experience cleaning the hard drives on donated computers, stripping components from old computers, properly recycling unusable parts and refurbishing or building computers as well as installing the MS operating system (ReSTORE is a MS Authorized Refurbisher). Trainees work with staff solving networking problems and installing upgrades. Trainees will study for the A+ Certification exam and then may attend an A+ Certification 2006: Essentials, IT Technician, Remote Support Technician, Depot Technician class with a certified training provider prior to their ReTRAIN graduation.

For more on Apprentice-style training, email: info@retrainvt.org

Work Experience

ReTRAIN’s Work Experience umbrella program offers training opportunities to in-school youth, people with emotional or physical disabilities and others with little or no work experience. The emphasis in the Work Experience program is not as much on technical learning as it is on establishing workplace routines, learning to make decisions and keep commitments and to give and receive feedback while handling multiple tasks. The Work Experience training program consists of two main areas of focus: Career Start and Learn, Earn, and Prosper (LEAP). Both lay the groundwork for future employment and enable students to develop personal and professional skills necessary to succeed in the job market.

Career Start

ReTRAIN's career start is now in its sixth year. The program has made some changes so that the training schedule is more flexible and responsive to its participants. This year, two students enrolled mid-way through the academic year so that they were able to meet their high school demands and begin to work on job skills through Career Start. Career Start follows the high school academic calendar. In 2007-2008, 12 students enrolled in Career Start; 5 graduated; and 2 entered mid-semester and did not complete the full program.

Learn, Earn, and Prosper (LEAP)

LEAP is a collaboration with the Gibney Family Foundation, Vermont Youth Conservation Corps, Linking Learning to Life, and VT Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired. Blind and visually impaired students participate in this residential training program. The students learn personal survival skills including, cooking balanced meals, grocery shopping, appropriate dress and communication in a work environment, acclimating to new environments, as well as a host of other personal and professional skills. Most youth are in high school and need additional training to gain employment and independent living skills. ReTRAIN will provide job training to LEAP students for 20 hours per week. Vocational training includes classroom and hands-on practical training under the guidance of skilled professionals.

Employability Skills Training

This program supports public assistance recipients who are completing weekly community service in order to maintain benefits while job hunting. Referring agencies look to ReTRAIN to provide a supportive but structured environment that gives participants new skills.

For more on Work Experience training, email: info@retrainvt.org