Carol Johnson, Southern Indiana Business Report
BEDFORD – Underemployed and unemployed adults looking to enhance their job skills are invited to the Introduction to Local Jobs and Skills, which begins Jan. 22 at the North Lawrence Career Center.
The three-week class will teach participants about welding, machining and construction as well as workplace soft skills.
This marks the 15th cohort of the program that was developed by the Lawrence County Economic Growth Council in 2020 to address a shortage of skilled workers in the area and to establish an adult education system in the county.
The program began with justice-involved adults that were referred by the courts. Today, Joe Timbrook, director of career development at the growth council, said the class is usually a 60-40 mix of justice-involved adults and those who are trying to learn new skills.
So far, 162 adults have taken the class.
Early on, Timbrook said it was apparent many of the adults faced barriers to getting a job that were not skill related.
Driver’s licenses, transportation were common barriers.
“We identify their needs and work with them to eliminate barriers,” Timbrook said. “They all have potential, it’s just removing the barriers and giving them an opportunity to accomplish something.”
Timbrook, who also serves as president of the county’s Community Corrections advisory board, said the Lawrence County recidivism rate for criminal offenders is about 40%. For offenders who graduate from ILJAS, the recidivism rate is just 6%.
“I hear from former students all the time that they have a job, they got their kids back,” Timbrook said. “When you have job skills and can get a win under your belt that’s a huge factor. It doesn’t happen in every case, you have to want to be better but this can be a beginning.”
Recognition for progress
Timbrook was recently recognized for his work with the criminal justice community. He was named the Indiana Association of Community Corrections Advisory Board Member of the Year. The award noted his efforts in working with judges and probation to promote adult education contributed to a 47% reduction in criminal case filings in Lawrence County over the previous two years.
Looking ahead, Timbrook said ILJAS received a grant from the Indiana Department of Health to develop a health sciences skills program, another area that needs skilled workers.
ILJAS details
The next ILJAS runs from Jan. 22-Feb. 8. The class meets Monday-Thursday from 4 to 8 p.m. at the NLCC. Each participant will receive a $250 stipend upon completion of the program.
To register contact Cathy Bullington, Lawrence County adult education coordinator, 812-797-3559 or send email to [email protected].
HSE boot camp
There will also be an HSE boot camp in January for adults and teens 16 and older who don’t have a high school diploma.
Deadline to register is Dec. 28. A pre-test in reading, writing, math, science and social studies will determine admission. Contact Bullington for more information or to register.