Laura JohnstonThomas Ford Learning AcademyAEDYEnglish Language Arts Grades 6-12

Safe Berks provides a safe haven and support to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. Their advocacy and education programs increase awareness of oppression and promote the prevention of domestic violence and sexual assault.

�People who are hurt need to know it is not their fault and it is ok to ask for help

�We should all feel safe and valued

�Knowledge is Powerful

�Children need positive role models

A FIVE-DAY SUMMER LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR EDUCATORS

� Berks county employers are facing workplace shortages

� The education community can help

� Schools can integrate and teach job readiness skills that employers are seeking in the curricula

� Students should be aware of workplace demands, career trends, and employment opportunities in Berks County

� Educators who participate will learn insights into the challenges Berks businesses are facing to hire skilled and competent employers and be able to bring new insights to the classroom to rectify these problems

SUMMARY OF BUSINESS EXPERIENCE

� Day 1: Tour of Facilities with Mary Kay Bernosky� Safe House: Talked with Hotline Operator and Case Manager� Living Quarters: Toured New Outside Playground for Children, Toured

Bedrooms, Social Quarters, Outside Garden, Kitchen and Dining Area� Legal Team: Talked with lawyers about their role with Safe Berks� Advocates: Talked with advocates about skills need for their position

and their day to day operations� Met Safe Berks accountant� Development Team: Spoke with Development about upcoming

community outreach programs � Education Team: Spoke with education team and viewed curriculum

used in prevention services

SUMMARY OF BUSINESS EXPERIENCE

� Day 2: Education Team� Traveled to I Lead Charter School with the education team

� Engaged in Prevention Education to students about Healthy Relationships

SUMMARY OF BUSINESS EXPERIENCE

� Day 3: #CampSafeBerks

Gender Equality

Youth Equality

Racial Equality

SUMMARY OF BUSINESS EXPERIENCE

� Day 4: Job Shadowing with Stacey Jordan� BTI tour and interview with James Reece (Director of Education)

� Employability skills conversation

� Program information

� Accompanied Stacey to the courthouse to assist a student file a PFA for advocacy services

EDUCATIONAL SKILLS NEW HIRES

Administration: Bachelor’s degree in related field (Master’s

preferred)

•Staff Accountant and Fiscal Administrative Assistant: Associates Degree + 1-2 years experience

Education: Bachelor’s degree in related field +

years of experience

•Community Educator: Associate’s degree in social work

Counseling: Bachelor’s Degree in related field

(Master’s preferred)

•Bilingual

Legal: J.D. Degree and member of PA Bar

Association +3-5 years experience

•Advocates: Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice, Social Work

SAFE HOUSE AND ENTRY LEVEL

Director of Residential Services: Bachelor’s Degree + 3-5 years

Hotline Counselor/Advocate: Associate’s Degree in related field

Children’s Advocate/Case Manager of Residential Services: Experience working with women and children

Entry Level Positions: $13-$19/hr

Housekeeping/Entry Level Safe House/Intake Hotline/Case manager/Counselor, Advocate/Community Educator/Admin Professional/Maintenance/Financial Admin

REQUIREMENTS AND BENEFITS OF NEW HIRES

Commitment to Safe Berks’ mission and core values

Excellent verbal and written communication skills and presentation skills

Bilingual strongly encouraged

Basic computer skills

Motivated self-starter

Commitment to ongoing personal development and ability to think “outside the box.”

Benefits: Medical, Vision, Dental, Retirement Plan, Paid Holidays

GREATEST ASSET

RESPECT EMPOWERMENT

DEDICATED EMPLOYEES!

HOPE

SAFETY EDUCATION

TECHNOLOGY UTILIZED

Microsoft Products Internet/Intranet Email Social Media:InstagramFaceBookLinkedIn

Twitter

Software:Apricot for Records (Direct

Service Staff)Donor Database, Salsa

(Development)Fund Easy for fund

accounting (Financial)Movers (Surveys to clients)

GREATEST CHALLENGE

Funding/Resources

grants, community outreach

Staff turnover/retention

Retention committee

social committee (recognize events for staff, fun events once a month)

Lack of writing and oral communication skills of recent college graduates

SKILLS TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN WORKPLACE

• Patience• Flexibility• Conversation• Collaborate• De-escalation strategies• Time Management• Commitment• Dependability• Technical literacy• Health/Safety• Problem Solving• Constructive Criticism• Self-Advocacy• Problem Solving• Critical Thinking

PROJECT ABSTRACTS

� Student Self-Evaluations (Portfolio)� Two separate checklists will be

utilized

� Writing to explain success � One: speaking and listening skills

during discussion/presentations

� Two: self-evaluations for essential workplace skills each week

� Literature Circles� Students will have different roles

while reading a novel (vocabulary finder, passage picker, discussion director, and summarizer.)

� Students will complete a culminating project in groups

� Students will evaluate their roles in the group focusing on conflict resolution and critical thinking skills in a final essay.

PROJECT ABSTRACT

� Student Self-Evaluation Checklists� PA Common Core Content Area Academic

Standards:1.5 Speaking and Listening Students present appropriately in formal speaking situations, listen critically, and respond intelligently as individuals or in group discussions.1.4 Writing Students write for different purposes and audiences. Students write clear and focused text to convey a well-defined perspective and appropriate content.� Academic Standards for Career Education and

Work:13.2 A. Identify effective speaking and listening skills used in a job interview.13.2 E. Explain, in the career acquisition process, the importance of the essential workplace skills/knowledge.

� Literature Circles� PA Common Core Content Academic Standards

Addressed:1.3 Reading Literature Students read and respond to works of literature—with an emphasis on comprehension, vocabulary acquisition, and making connections among ideas and between texts with a focus on textual evidence.1.4 Writing Students write for different purposes and audiences. Students write clear and focused text to convey a well-defined perspective and appropriate content.� Academic Standards for Career Education and

Work:13.3 B. Career Retention and Advancement: Analyze the role of each participant’s contribution in a team setting.13.3 C. Explain and demonstrate conflict resolution skills: Constructive criticism, Group Dynamics, Managing/leadership, mediation, negotiation, problem solving