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Chester County OIC Offers Literacy And Job Training Programs By Francine Fulton Chester County residents in need of literacy skills, job training and more are invited to take advantage of services that are offered by the Chester County OIC (Opportunities Industrialization Center). Established in 1979, Chester County OIC has assisted over 10,000 men and women in Chester County to improve their lives through knowledge and training. According to its mission statement, the OIC “provides essential life skills programs that prepare individuals for employment and self-sufficiency." Ceil Harkness, OIC program director, noted that many of Chester County OIC's clients have a high school education but are in need of additional training in order to obtain employment. Chester County OIC addresses this need by offering entry level training programs in high-priority occupations for Pennsylvania, including Nurse Aide Training and Advanced Office Technology programs. This summer, they will offer a third training program in Child Care Certification. Other OIC programs include the Lifelong Learning Program (LLP), a literacy class specifically developed for developmentally disabled adults, and the Workforce Literary program, which offers one-on-one literacy tutoring. OIC also offers I CAN (Independent Career Action Network), an informal program of workshops that offer life skills, job readiness and academic remediation classes. I CAN is open to low-income or disadvantaged out-of-school youths ages 16 to 21. PFI (Preparing for Independence) is an OIC employment and vocational counseling program open to those needing employment or wanting to improve their lives through better job benefits or greater income. The program teaches employability skills and provides job search opportunities. Classes offered by OIC include GED (General Education Diploma) and ESL (English as a Second Language). One client who has been helped by OIC is Chester County resident Jose Ortiz, who found himself in trouble at a young age. After seeking help at the agency, he was able to earn his GED and recently applied to attend Delaware County Community College, where he would like to study human services and business. "OIC has helped me keep focused and stay on the right path," he said. Ortiz is currently volunteering at OIC, working in the West Chester office, located at 790 E. Market St., Suite 100. OIC also maintains an office at 347 Bridge St., Suite 201, Phoenixville. For more information about OIC and the various training programs, interested readers may contact Harkness at 610-692-2344 or e-mail charkness@cc-oic.org . More information is also available at www.cc-oic.org. West Chester Community Courier - 05/26/2010 Gap-Parkesburg-Oxford Community Courier - 05/26/2010 Elverson-Morgantown-Honey Brook Community Courier - 05/26/2010 Downingtown-Exton Community Courier - 05/26/2010 West Chester Community Courier - 06/02/2010 |
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