Workforce Development

Advocates for workers, partners for business

Employment training not only helps the worker who can find a job with his or her new skills. A qualified workforce benefits the employer and the community. Partners for Community, through the work of its affiliates, helps workers and employers both benefit from lifelong learning and self improvement.

Career and Job Skill Training for Farm Workers

New England Farm Workers’ Council (NEFWC) is a PfC affiliate that focuses on helping migrant farm workers attain long-term employment. Programs in MA, CT, NH and RI introduce migrant workers to year-round earning potential in non-agricultural vocations -- many of which call for learning new skills. Farm worker employment services are available to men and women who have performed agricultural work during the last two years and meet U.S. Department of Labor low-income standards. Services include employment counseling, classroom training, Commercial Driver's License (CDL) training, job search assistance, job placement, and on-the-job training with local employers. NEFWC's relationships with other local agencies allow farm workers to train for stable, long-term employment.

»Learn more about Farm Worker programs

If you are interested in NEFWC career and job training programs, please contact Sonia Berte, Program Director, at (413) 536-5403.

Competitive Integrated Employment Services (CIES)

Corporation for Public Management (CPM) offers CIES, a program of the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) that provides a high-support model of employment training for referred participants.

The first step of CIES for any participant is a thorough assessment of both academic skills as well as a variety of career skills. A specific plan is developed according to the level of service that a participant needs to receive, and can range from helping a highly qualified individual with a long work history apply his or her skills in a new field to helping individuals overcome language barriers, obtain GEDs or gain certification to start a career.

»Learn more about CIES job placement services for businesses

If your business is interested in partnering with CPM, please contact Ken Demers, Vice President of Employment and Training, at (413) 272-2373 or by email at cpmet@partnersforcommunity.org.