Portland observer., February 22, 1979, Page 10, Image 10

Page 2 Portland O b w rv tr Section II Thursday, February 2 2 ,1979
Portland Opportunities Industrializatii
rialization Center
W H A T IS OIC? OIC is a comprehensive training program for
the unemployed, the underemployed, and the skilled of all
races.
N A T IO N A LLY : The program originated in Philadelphia, Pen­
nsylvania in 1964 under the leadership o f Reverend Leon H.
Sullivan, Founder and Chairman of the Board of Opportunities
Industrialization Centers of America.
LO C ALLY: Portland OIC, one of a network of 140 com m unity
based programs, began operation as an A dult Basic Education
Program in m id-October, 1968. Support for the program at that
time came primarily from the Albina Ministerial Alliance.
During the summer of 1971, the program expanded its ser­
vices, and became a comprehensive training program w hich in­
cluded: recruitment, intake, orientation and assessment, basic
education, prevocational training, counseling, w ork orienta­
tion, clerical skill training, job development, placement, and
follow -up.
C U RR EN T O PER ATIO N:
JOE W A S H IN G T O N . D IR EC TO R
A. Counseling
Counseling is an on-going service to all participants enrolled in training. The Counseling Department, consisting of 12 coun­
selors. maintains contact with the participant throughout his/her training to ensure that training progress is positive. The role
of the counselor is to provide counseling support in the areas of personal and training-related problems, to arrange for suppor
tive service needs, and to prepare the necessary paperwork to document training related experiences
B P re -V o c a tio n a l T ra in in g (P re-V o c)
Pre-Vocational Training is designed to assist CETA participants in need of basic educational skill upgrading. Pre-Voc ser­
vices include both classroom instruction and one-to-one tutoring, depending upon the needs of the individual participant. Up­
grading in basic math and/or English skills is the primary focus of instruction although other areas are addressed as added
Successful completion of the Pre-Voc phase of a participant's training is based upon achievement of agreed to competency
levels as stated on the individual participant's Employability Development Plan (EDP), e.g., upgrade math from 4.0 grade level
to 7.0 grade level.
Pre-Vocational Training occurs on-site with the training project contractor, Portland Opportunitios Industrialization Center,
Inc.
C. On-the-Job Training:
OlC's On-the-Job Training as an activity which is designed to teach skills that are best learned by doing.
The OIC OJT staff consist of four training specialists who are charged with the responsibility of developing the on-the-job
training sites for the OJT participants.
All the OJT work/tratning sites are developed as contracts between Portland OIC and the company or agency with whom
the training site is arranged The majority of the OJT contracts are executed on a "hire first - train later" basis This is to say
that the employer agrees to hire the individual as a regular company employee and is therefore able to be reimbursed for up to
50% of the indrvxJuel's wage during the training period of the OJT contract. As a rule, OJT contracts are written between Port
land OIC and private local business and industry.
D. W o rk E xperience
Portland OlC's Work Experience activity provides short-term an d/o r part-time work assignments for the participants with
various public or private non-profit employers.
Work Experience is designed to enhance the employability of the Work Experience participant by providing them with the
experience on the job as well as an opportunity to develop occupational skills and good work habits through exposure to
various occupational opportunities
E. B ilingual E m p lo y m e n t T rain in g English as a S econd Language (B /E T — ESL):
Portland OlC's B /E T —ESL has a commitment to the Spanish-speaking population of the City of Portland to improve the
language skill mastery and the world of work awareness for this particular population. Once the language skill barriers are
removed the B /E T —ESL participant then enters his/her next phase of training and, as with all OIC participants, proceeds to
the ultimate objective of self sustaining employment.
Success is measured in terms of language skills and job placement in the Bilingual Employment Training English as a
Second Language component.
F. C lerical
Portland OlC's Clerical program offers the participant, on an individualized, open-entry/open-exit basis, intensive clerical
skill training in the areas of typing, filing, business machines, Business English, bookkeeping, keypunch, stenography and o f­
fice simulation.
Individualized instruction is tailored to the needs of each student, which means that these needs are the prime factor in
determining length of training time and skill level to be acquired.
G. P ro je c t D iscovery
Project Discovery is a unique program designed to aid the out-of-school youth (ages 14-21) in formulating his/her training
and course development objectives This is accomplished through diagnostic assessment, counseling, career exploration, re
search activities culminating in the development of their final career development plan
H. Fort V a n c o u v e r-C la rk C o u n ty O IC:
Our newest facility is housed in the classic 150-year old Academy. Fort Vancouver OIC will bring the same time-proven,
non-traditional training methods to the residents of Vancouver and Clark County. Fort Vancouver OIC provides clerical and
youth training activities on a year-round basis to the community.
I. Personal D e v e lo p m e n t and P re -E m p lo y m e n t Training
This program is designed to provide the trainee with those skills and attitudes to assure success in the areas of career plan­
ning, job acquisition and career advancement, positive self image and relationships with others, wise buying and financial
management, personality development, good health and personal appearance, success on the job and communication
5329 N E. U N IO N AVEN UE
287-1271
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