what is sought to be accomplished
The church employment program focuses on training an individual to provide them with the skills necessary to obtain or to improve employment. The focus parallels the principle that if you 'teach a man to fish, you feed him for a lifetime'. While the objective is to find a job, we can say that the church program is less focused on being an 'Employment Agency' and more focused on obtaining the life skills to be employable. To this end the employment specialist is called.
how does this fit into the church organization
Given the church's objective, the specialist may not directly find anyone a job, but they will be intimately involved with job candidates that find themselves a job. The specialist will be supported by the unit leader's direction of the Unit Welfare Committee, which when properly administered and delegated, brings to bear fully the time, talents, experience and blessings of the local unit.
Specialists are part of an effort by many individuals to support members in their career assessment, job search, networking, resumes, interviewing skills and career maintenance. In fulfilling the calling's responsibility the specialist may receive confidential information, that which is received must be maintained in privacy.
All should recognize that the loss of employment is one of life's most devastating events. While the specialist's expertise lies in technical assistance for job search activities, they are also needed for encouragement and spiritual elevation.
excerpts from: http://providentliving.org/content/display/0,11666,3224-1-1806-1,00.html
As an employment specialist you will likely benefit from training. The following are some steps that will increase your effectiveness in this calling:
Contact the stake employment specialist or stake high councilor assigned to welfare to arrange for training.
Participate in the stake employment effort.
Help leaders understand career self-reliance principles, by sharing them in such settings as ward and stake welfare committee meetings, as invited. Encourage leaders to train members in these principles.
Serve as a resource person for your unit’s welfare committee, help develop a plan for providing employment assistance in your unit, receive reports from the committee on member needs and resources, and report on members’ progress toward achieving their goals
Hold meetings with individuals in need.
Follow-up with individuals and with leaders:
Know the resources of your unit’s members (the Lord’s storehouse), where they are working, and what skills they have. Compile this information in a useful format. Use these member contacts to identify employment resources and opportunities and share them with members in need.
Be in touch with members you are assisting at least once per week to follow up on their activities.
Contact the stake employment specialist at least weekly to review member needs and to share resources and opportunities in the ward, stake, and region.
Promote and/or sponsor group resource information meetings.
Prepare a monthly placement/activity report and submit it to your ecclesiastical leader, with a copy to the stake employment specialist or assigned high councilor.
one page topics suitable for discussion with unit leadership (you only need to review the specific page presented, it is part of a larger document)
Organize Employment Efforts ; page here .
Church Welfare Resources; page here .
Priesthood and Relief Society Responsibilities; page here .
Leadership Action List; page here .
what are we looking for?
Unemployment is the lack of any income from time expended at a job, trade or business.
Under employment is income derived from a position or responsibility below one's capacity or capability.
Over employment is seeking income beyond that which is necessary for sustaining a family.
Review some conditions that may exist in your unit; one page here .
a specifically trained member of the Unit
The specialist may be the counselor over welfare OR
May be a specific called and trained individual
Participation in the monthly PEC Welfare meeting is at the invitation of the Bishop
Link to typical employment specialist duties; one page here .
additionally the Church provides significant resources
The Church support for employment has been increased by a factor of 10 since 2001
The Regional Employment Center (ERC) provides training to include trade, career and professional candidates
Link to the Regional Employment Center capabilities; one page here .