SER-JOBS FOR PROGRESS OF SOUTHERN ARIZONA, INC.

About Us

Mission Statement

SER prepares clients for the workforce. Our philosophy is to treat persons as individuals who have different abilities, needs, goals and potentials. Participants are encouraged to experiment with the learning process in a positive classroom and workplace environment.

SER’s educational programs simulate a work environment. Workforce Investment Act guidelines, U.I. procedures and student policies/responsibilities are explained before enrollment and emphasized throughout the program.

The SER Bilingual-Bicultural Education System:

• Is supported by national and local experts in bilingual-bicultural education.

• Relates to the client’s culture and is sensitive to bilingual education needs.

• Has five education departments: ESL, Basic Education, GED, high school and middle school and four placement activities: OJT, internships, work experience and upgrade training.

• Adjusts to the changing employment needs of our community.

• Receives staff training, specialized curriculum materials, evaluation instruments and on-site help from education specialists.

SER is a 501 c (3) Non-profit Organization funded by: Pima County, the Arizona Department of Education, HURF, the City of South Tucson, and the Pima County Workforce Investment Board

Agency Background

SER-Jobs for Progress of Southern Arizona, Inc., is a private non-profit organization offering comprehensive employment and training programs.

SER has worked with Pima County’s dislocated and migrant workers, special populations, out-of-school youths, functional illiterates, monolingual persons and “at-risk” middle and high school students since 1968.

Our core services consist of intake, certification, testing and assessment. We operate literacy, academic, summer high school credit and summer vocational training programs.

Counseling, job development, case management and support services are an integral part of our programs.

Our 41 years of experience includes:

• Twenty years experience in designing and operating comprehensive delivery systems under MDTA and CETA

•Fifteen years experience in designing and operating comprehensive programs under JTPA Titles II-A, II-C and II-B

•Participation in the One-Stop System since the inception of WIA

•Forty years experience working with the private sector in developing specialized training and on-the-job training programs

•Thirty-nine years of collaboration with TUSD in vocational and core academic programs The SER National Network was originally established by LULAC and the American G.I. Forum as a categorical program under MDTA to meet the employment needs of our nation’s Hispanic population.

English as a Second Language Classes

This is a state approved Employment and Training Program. Applicants should understand basic English. The Applicant must be willing to work upon completion of training.

30 hours per week

Monday-Thursday: 8:00 am - 2:15 pm

Friday: 8:00 am – 1:00 pm

Classes are for eligible adults, 18 years of age or older, who want to learn to communicate in oral and written English.

Eligibility Requirements: Services under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) program are based on an applicant’s individual situation. All interested applicants must meet WIOA eligibility criteria in order to be considered for enrollment.

Participants will also learn job skills such as:

• Resume Writing

• Interviewing Techniques

• Finding jobs in the local job market

• Computer fundamentals

SER Center

SER operates its youth and adult education programs at our center. Our ESL/BE program is approved by the state. Students may receive unemployment payments and/or continue receiving state assistance, if eligible, while in training.

SER has operated countywide programs since 1968. We place special emphasis on the clients and businesses in the Tucson/South Tucson Enterprise Zone, the Pima County Enterprise Zone and the Tucson Empowerment Zone. These areas have the highest unemployment, poverty and dropout rates in the county. The highest percentage of low-income families also resides in these zones. We serve Pima County residents, youth between the ages of 14 and 24, adults, and dislocated workers who meet eligibility guidelines. Pima County plans and operates the One-Stop System. SER is a major One-Stop contractor and provides trained and qualified staff to the One-Stop System. SER currently has staff assigned to the ARIZONA@WORK Kino and Rio Nuevo One-Stop Centers, Las Artes Arts & Education Center, DES and the Sullivan-Jackson Employment Center.

ARIZONA@WORK Kino and Rio Nuevo One-Stop Centers

SER provides support and workforce development staff to the One-Stop Centers. We also have staff working with veterans and other special needs populations.

Sullivan-Jackson Employment Center

SER staff provides housing and clothing assistance, employability skills training, job development, job placement and assessments for the homeless, especially veterans.

Las Artes Arts and Education Center

SER staff is assigned to education and support positions at the Las Artes Arts and Education Center. Las Artes’s goal is to ensure that the participants receive the education to earn a GED and the work experience (through the Art Mural portion of the program) to gain employment in the private sector.

Summer and Year-Round Programs

Summer and year-round education and work experience programs are administered from our center. We normally serve approximately four hundred (400) youth each year. Summer and year-round WEX programs provide entry-level on-the-job training for youth who have minimal or no work experience. SER’s partnering employers do not require past work experience a condition for employment. We have placed clients in at least three WIB target sectors; Emerging Technologies, Aerospace & Defense and Logistics.

Our In-school students represent some 15 public high schools and 12 charter schools. Summer education programs (Basic Education, Special Education & ESL) are conducted at Pueblo High School by SER instructors, counselors and support staff.

We established a weekend in-school program for Limited English proficient (LEP) students. This program provides basic language skills for recently arrived refugees from countries such as Afghanistan, Bhutan, Burma, Burundi, Eritrea, Iraq, Kenya, Nepal, Sudan & Tanzania.