BACKGROUND:

The East Los Angeles Skills Center, established in 1966, provides vocational and academic training and job placement for low income, economically disadvantaged individuals.

RESOURCES:

* ROC (Regional Occupational Center), Adult Division, Los Angeles Unified School District, State of California
* JTPA: City of Los Angeles, County of Los Angeles, Hub Cities Consortium
* AEWC (Alternative Education Work Center), Adult Division, Los Angeles Unified School District, State of California

TARGET POPULATION:

Low income, economically disadvantaged youth and adults. Displaced workers, gang members, at risk youth, unemployment insurance recipients, welfare recipients, teen parents, ex-offenders, homeless.

SERVICES PROVIDED:

* Vocational/Academic Training
* High School Classes/Diploma/GED
* Specialized Job Preparation Classes
* Vocational Counseling
* Gang Prevention Program
* Job Placement
* Vocational and Academic Assessment

COMMUNITY LINKAGE PROVIDED AT SKILLS CENTER:

* El Centro Mental Health
* Los Angeles County Probation Department
* Employment Development Department
* Trade Advisory Councils
* Community Advisory Council
* Esperanza Project
* Big Brothers of America

Philosophy

The East Los Angeles Skills Center provides a unique curricular program which coordinates academic and vocational training. Instruction is designed to improve the student's academic or basic skills competence while simultaneously preparing the student for job specific employment.

The Center is dedicated to promoting personal development, technical skills and economic opportunity in the diverse community it serves. Partnerships with educational, business and community based organizations are intended to support the overall program in enabling the student to realize his/her potential as a productive and contributing member of society.

Mission Statement

We are an adult vocational school that provides short-term skills training and job placement enhanced by appropriate academic, personal, and community support programs.

Major Goals

* Improve business and industry awareness of the Skills Center mission.
* Enhance student employability through the improvement of the curriculum.
* Secure additional ftinding for the Center through networking with government and private sector.
* gang prevention and intervention services. Most of our community partners have staff at our school. They include:

• El Centro Mental Health
• Los Angeles County Probation Department
• California Employment Development Department
• Esperanza Project
• Big Brothers of America
• El Jardin de Ninos Children's Center
• Salvation Army
• Business industry Representative
• Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services
• Community Advisory Council
  

* Corporate support for our students and programs. Active trade advisory councils are in place for each of our programs. This support has allowed us to stay in contact with local employers to continuously update course content, and equip classes with modern technology. Several industries have flinded entire classes, including the instructor's salary. Others have purchased entire learning labs for our students. Some provide part-time work for our students during training. Close contact with business has allowed us to diversity over the years to meet the changing needs of the work force. At present, we have a particular emphasis on advanced electronics, construction inspection, and the entertainment industry.

* A dedicated staff. East Los Angeles Skills Center staff members are closely tied to the students, their needs and the community. Consequently, our staff makes school much more accessible for students.

The East Los Angeles Skills Center offers a unique curricular program in the coordination of both academic study and employment training. This is designed to improve the student's academic or basic skills, particularly in language arts and mathematics, while simultaneously preparing the student with a job specific skill. The Skills Center is dedicated to providing the community with employment preparation that meets industry standards and reflects the latest technology. This quality training program coupled with a close relationship to the local business community has resulted in a consistently outstanding job placement rate.

Along with vocational and academic instruction the students are offered on site community resources including social, Probation and Employment Development services, as well as, marital, family, psychological and substance abuse counseling.

Situated in a changing community, the East Los Angeles Skills Center serves a population which may best be described as "at risk". The unemployment rate in the area is near 40% and 40% of the residents receive welfare benefits; nearly 40% are single parents; 25% ex-offenders; and the school dropout rate in the area is 45%. Primarily a minority area, residents are 80% Hispanic, 10% Asian, 5% black and 5% other.

The East Los Angeles Skills Center has developed a strong partnership with local community agencies, community leaders, parent groups, advisory members and area businesses to provide resources, services and flill employment for its students and to develop a genuine involvement with the community at large.

All classes are accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. Funded in part by Los Angeles City, Los Angeles County and Hub Cities PlC JTPA.