• Stearns-Benton Employment & Training Council
• Job Service
• Rehabilitation Services
• State Services for the Blind

The WorkForce Center is located at 1542 Northway Drive. You can call the WorkForce Center at (320) 654-5320.

Stearns-Benton Employment and Training Council (SBETC)

Visit us at www.workforceu.com

SBETC works with local citizens, businesses, government, social service agencies and educational institutions. We bridge the needs of business with the needs of employable citizens who, with career exploration, training and job-search support can successfully attain lasting, viable employment.

With a mission of comprehensive workforce development, our ability to focus on customized skills assessment and training for individuals and businesses is vital to our success. We know that a healthy, gainfully employed workforce earning livable wages must meet the real needs of local business and industry. Backed by federal, state and local funding, SBETC operates and collaborates in more than two dozen specialized assessment, training, skills enhancement and career development programs to prepare workers to meet the needs of local businesses. We identify, evaluate and train youth, dislocated workers, the unemployed and underemployed, disadvantaged citizens and mature workers to become vital, productive, self-sustaining citizens.

SBETC also manages summer and year-round youth programs designed to engage children and young adults 14-21 years old in career exploration, academic enrichment, skills development, on-the-job training, community service and teamwork.

SBETC maintains a continuous dialogue with citizens, businesses, government, social services agencies and educational institutions. This ensures that we identify, assess and train the right workers for the right jobs with the right skills at the right time to meet the hiring needs of business while helping the unemployed make successful career choices.

SBETC works with clients, partners and employers to identify the specific employee qualifications, covering:

• Customer service skills
• Attitude
• Work ethic
• Attendance
• Job commitment
• Communication - oral, written and interpersonal communication skills
• Literacy - reading, writing and comprehension skills
• Aptitude - ability to comprehend applied and abstract information
• Job-Specific Skills - skills tailored to business hiring needs, such as computer capabilities and telemarketing experience

  Strategic Partnerships
  Collaboration, coalition-building, flexibility and creative partnerships are cornerstones of SBETC training programs. We work with social service agencies, private foundations, businesses, educators and juvenile justice agencies to provide real opportunities through services.

  Into the Future
  With a comprehensive array of employment assessment, training, job development and placement resources now at its disposal, SBETC is poised to help Stearns and Benton County job seekers achieve their potential while supporting business growth in our communities.

  For more information, call SBETC at (320)308-5702.

[return to top]

Job Service

Job Service is a local office of the Minnesota Department of Economic Security. The mission of Job Service is to provide Minnesota businesses with services and information to build and maintain a world-class workforce and to provide Minnesota workers with resources and information to manage their participation in the workforce. Funding is received from federal, state, and local resources.

Within the administrative area of Benton, Sherburne, Stearns, and Wright Counties, the St. Cloud Area Job Service annually provides labor exchange services for employers who listed more than 10,000 job openings and for more than 19,000 individuals who contacted this office for employment assistance. Employers and job seekers are able to access information on job openings, job search data, and the labor market via their own computer through our Webpage, JobBank, and America’s Job Bank.

In 2002, Unemployment Insurance services were provided to 17,662 individuals who receive approximately $72,682,668 million in program benefits statewide. During the school year, ambassadors hired from local universities are located in seven area high schools providing access to career information to the students and faculty.  The ambassadors may also receive college credit for their participation in this program. Individualized services are provided to veterans, dislocated workers, Trade Assistance Act participants, and area residents who need specialized assistance to help them obtain and retain employment.

In partnership with St. Cloud Technical College, Job Service is the WorkKeys Service Center for central Minnesota. Certified job profilers are on staff to provide job analysis services locally to area businesses for the purpose of training assessment and selection of qualified employees.

Employment consultant staff assist area employers by providing business/labor information, referring qualified job seekers to job openings listed, conducting a job analysis of various occupations, and arranging business-related seminars. A local Job Service Employers' Committee provides input to continually improve employer services, data on employer expectations for job seekers, and future workforce needs.

Job seekers choose to access career and job opening information on a self-service, group, or individualized basis. Employment-related workshops, job clubs, and career exploration seminars are available to any job seeker at no cost.

For more information, call Job Service at (320) 654-5320.

[return to top]

Rehabilitation Services

Rehabilitation Services is for people with disabilities who need our services to get ready for work, or to find or keep a job. Basic services include vocational counseling, planning, guidance and placement, as well as certain special services based on individual circumstances. These may include academic or skill training, artificial appliances or prostheses, assistive technology and adaptions, and tools and equipment.

To be eligible, a person must have a medically documented disability that significantly interferes with his or her ability to obtain or continue employment, and must require vocational rehabilitation services to obtain or continue employment.

Due to the high demand for our services and limited available resources, we are unable to serve all those who are eligible. Therefore, Vocational Rehabilitation Services has made the decision to implement a federal mandate that requires priority be given to persons with severe disabilities when resources are inadequate to serve all those eligible.

All services are designed to result in placement in a suitable job. For more information, call Rehabilitation Services at (320) 255-2224.

[return to top]

State Services for the Blind

About SSB

The mission of the State Services for the Blind is to facilitate the achievement of vocational and personal independence by children and adults who are blind or visually impaired.

Who can use SSB

Anyone of any age in Minnesota who has a vision loss that creates a barrier to their vocational or personal independence.

Services Available
Rehabilitation Services

• Adjustment to Blindness
• Rehabilitation Counseling
• Braille Instruction
• Travel Training
• Job Placement
• Career Exploration
• Assistive Technology Services
• Rehabilitation Engineering
• Low Vision Services
• Independent Living Skills Training
• Vocational Training
• Business Enterprise Program
• Parent Information
• Child Services
• Advocacy
• AND MORE

  For more information, call State Services for the Blind at (320) 654-5320.

[return to top]

Text Version