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Earn and Learn is a two-year statewide initiative that began in the fall of 2011. The Detroit-area program is led by Southwest Solutions. It involves multiple partners working together to train, place and maintain participants in employment.
For participants, the program provides:
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Workâreadiness training (4 weeks)
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Individualized supportive services
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Subsidized and unsubsidized employment
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Adult Basic Education (ABE), GED, or remediation
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Vocational training and education
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Follow-up and job-retention services
For employers, Earn and Learn provides:
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Employees that are pre-screened and ready-to-work
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Reimbursed wages
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Support from the Earn and Learn program to address possible issues
Eligibility requirements for interested participants
To qualify for Earn and Learn, an applicant must live in the City of Detroit, Highland Park or Hamtramck. The applicant also must meet at least one of these criteria:
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A minority male 18-24 years
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A formerly incarcerated, adult
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A chronically unemployed adult
In addition, to enroll in Earn and Learn, an applicant must meet all of these requirements:
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Be an American citizen or national; or lawfully admitted permanent resident alien, refugee, asylee, or parolee; or any other immigrant that is authorized by the Attorney General to work in the US
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Be registered with Selective Service (if the applicant is male)
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Be WIA (Workforce Investment Act) eligible
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Pass a drug test
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Test above a sixth-grade learning level
Contact information for interested particpants
Residents who live in Hamtramck, Highland Park or the east side or North End of Detroit should contact:
Other Detroit residents should contact:
Employer information
Employers participating in Earn and Learn enjoy many benefits. They have free access to qualified workers who are recruited, screened, prepared and supported by Earn and Learn. An employer receives wage reimbursement of up to 500 hours for a worker enrolled in Earn and Learn. Moreover, by participating in Earn and Learn, employers have an opportunity to help the community and individuals seeking to better their lives.
During the period of subsidized employment, an Earn and Learn participant works for the employer part-time so that the participant can continue training and education that will enhance the participant's skills. The intent of Earn and Learn is to encourage employers to hire program participants full-time after the subsidized employment period ends.
Earn and Learn provides support services to help participants do well at work and also help employers with issues that arise. If an employer needs to terminate an Earn and Learn employee at any time during the subsidized term, a new candidate will be provided.
Employers wanting to participate in Earn and Learn should contact:
Shawn Booker
Job Developer at Focus: HOPE
313-494-4579
Hassan Bazzi
Job Developer at ACCESS
313-285-9033
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Earn and Learn is a statewide initiative that operates in three regional areas: Detroit, Flint and Saginaw. Nearly 60% of the statewide resources are dedicated to the Detroit-area program.
Several funding partners support the Earn and Learn program in southeast Michigan. About $13.2 Million will be invested for education and training, subsidized employment, and program services.
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One third of the funds came from The Workforce Development Agency of the State of Michigan
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One third of the funds came from The Open Society Foundations, Special Fund for Poverty Alleviation, administered by the C. S. Mott Foundation
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And, one third of the funds have been leveraged from local Foundations: the New Economy Initiative (NEI), The Skillman Foundation, and the W. K. Kellogg Foundation
In addition, The Joyce Foundation has committed funds to perform an independent third-party evaluation of the statewide initiative, including the southeast Michigan region.
Program background
 Earn and Learn is a collaborative initiative funded by a blend of public and philanthropic dollars. It is founded on the premise that the ethic and opportunity of work is essential to revitalizing our community. The mission of the program is to promote this ethic and opportunity through a comprehensive approach that includes training, support services, education, incentives, subsidized employment, and other services.
The program is grounded in best practices and will be rigorously evaluated. If successful, Earn and Learn could become a national model of helping a population that has been historically hard to reach and connect to the world of work.
Program partners ACCESS and Focus: HOPE provide training, supportive services, and job development.
Program partners Detroit Workforce Development Department (DWDD) and Southeast Michigan Community Alliance (SEMCA) provide training and education, and job development.
Southwest Solutions serves as the program manager, convener and fiduciary. To learn more about Earn and Learn, email Laurie Diener, senior manager at Southwest Solutions. |
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Housing Overview
