Program Information Description updated 03/30/12
Contact updated: 01/09/17
Program approved for: 1st-Year MSW [x] 2nd-Year MSW [x]
Parent Agency Name:
Rising Sun Energy Center
Website:
Agency/Program Address:
1900 Addison St. Suite 100, Berkeley, CA 94704
Name of Internship Contact Person:
Tamara Rockett, GETS Case Manager at rockett@risingsunenergy.org or 510-665-1501 x202
County Agency is in: Alameda.
Program Description:
Rising Sun's Green Energy Training Services (GETS) is a workforce devlopment program for dislocated workers and adults with barreirs to employment. We provide hands-on training in residential energy efficiency, as well as case management and job placement services. Rising Sun also has a social enterprise, which is an energy efficiency contracting company. This company hires graduates from GETS and provides them transitional employment as well as case management, with the goal of connecting them to permanent, stable employment.
Rising Sun Energy Center, a non-profit organization founded in 1994, is a leading green workforce development and retrofit services organization. Rising Sun provides green job training and employment to young people and to adults who face barriers to employment. Rising Sun also provides low-to-no-cost retrofit services to Bay Area households, with a focus on under-resourced communities: moderate and low-income residents, renters, and non-English speakers. Rising Sun’s Green Energy Training Services (GETS) program prepares adults for entry-level jobs in residential energy efficiency. Rising Sun Energy Services is our social enterprise, which provides transitional employment and case management support to graduates of the GETS program.
Clientele Served:
Residents of Alameda and Contra Costa County, primarily in Berkeley, Oakland, and Richmond. Majority African-American and Latino, majority male,, ranging in age from 18 to 60. Some are dislocated workers who have been unemployed for 6 months or more. Others face barriers to employment, including criminal records, history of substance abuse, homelessness, limited English skills, low academic skills, or female heads of household.
The GETS program serves dislocated workers and adults with barriers to employment. Our participants are all low-income, and many have criminal backgrounds, histories of substance abuse, mental health needs, are limited English speakers, or are female heads of household. More than half of our clients are African-American or Latino, and all are residents of Oakland, Berkeley, or Richmond.
Issues Program Addresses:
We train people with skills that are in demand with the goal of connecting them to employment that will lead to long-term self-sufficiency. We also work individually with our clients to address a variety of barriers to employment, and help them access the services and supports they need to retain their jobs.
Intern Assignments:
Intern will be assigned a small caseload of clients (2-5 people) to work with them on overcoming barriers to employment, setting and reaching employment goals. Intern will also work closely with Program Director on strategic planning and program development/adminsitration activities.
Intern Training & Educational Opportunities:
Intern will have access to webinars and conferences on workforce development, energy efficiency, and green jobs. Intern will also participate in organization-wide staff meetings, and become familiar with our other programs.
Intern Benefits: (Include stipend, conferences, car, food, etc.)
Mileage reimbursement for use of personal car and/or reimbursement for public transit expenses during work day.
Other Special Placement Procedures or Requirements (Including Dates of Internship, Special Application Forms and Deadlines):
Internship would begin in late August/Early September and end in May/June. Intern will need to show proof of insurance if using own car.
If student has a car and plans to use it for work, student must provide verification of insurance.
5. Please indicate any specials skills that you desire in a student, such as fluency in a
foreign language, sign language, computer literacy, etc.
Strong computer skills required, interest in sustainability/green jobs strongly preferred, interest in workforce development and case management in a job training context required, Spanish skills are an advantage but not required. Knowledge of energy efficiency or construction industry a plus but absolutely not a requirement.
6. How many students do you feel your agency can adequately supervise?
1
8. What attitudes/aptitudes/characteristics do you consider desirable for students placed in your agency?
We offer a unique field experience that will allow students exposure to a lot of different skills, including case management, program planning, and program administration. Students who are flexible, creative thinkers, and self-starters would be most successful here. Because this is a technical training program in a construction-related field, most of our clients are men, so the student must be comfortable working with men.
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