Shuswap
Training & Employment
Program

History of STEP:

Goals of STEP:

The STEP provides opportunities for all First Nations individuals and communities in the STEP service area to achieve economic self-sufficiency through training and employment services that support locally defined needs.

The main objective is to provide work experience, training (on and off site) and counseling to the long term unemployed, youth, women, persons with special difficulties, and those workers threatened with unemployment.

Eligible employers include First Nations communities (bands), organizations and Aboriginally controlled business ventures. To achieve this objective, they provide the following programs:

• Human Resource Investment Fund (Section 25)
• Direct Purchase Program
• Job Development Program
• Youth Development Program
• Service Delivery Assistance Program
• Workplace Training Program

STEP Client Services

STEP offers a variety of assistance to Aboriginal groups and organizations from program financial assistance, to proposal reviewal and approval, and to program/training evaluation.

STEP’s Program and Development workers work closely with these groups from the onset
of a training initiative through to completion. They provide a wealth of knowledge from
finance to program development.

Aboriginal persons are offered the same services that are provided to groups. Additionally, individuals are provided with referrals to a numbers of programs available for training.

Aboriginal persons are also welcome to register with STEP’s Aboriginal Human Resource Inventory Service. This database is in a creation stage; however, STEP looks forward to using this system to assist with employment for trained Aboriginal people.

STEP Programs

Under the direction of its Board, STEP has developed a multi-year plan and budget, as well as an Aboriginal training and employment strategy:

• Human Resource Investment Fund (Section 25)
  - provides training and/or work experience for persons who are currently receiving EI, have
  received EI within the last three years, or have been on maternity leave within the last five years.
• Direct Purchase Program
  - to provide funding for purchasing individual seats for various vocational programs
  as well as specific programs from community groups or other organizations.
• Job Development Program
  - specifically designed for the long term unemployed and people receiving Social Assistance.
  This program has the option for the employer to utilize funds from the Social Assistance
  department if available.
• Youth Development Program
  - designed to provide work and developmental learning experiences, as
  well as youth entrepreneurial skills for in or out-of-school youth.
• Service Delivery Assistance Program
  - delivers employment assistance such as counseling, placement, and referral activities through organizations in the community.
• Workplace Training Program
  - skill upgrade or development for existing employees working for Aboriginal bands/organizations.

Detailed information related to the specific criteria and deadline
dates for proposals can be picked up at the STEP office.

STEP Board of Directors

SNTC has established a board of directors made up of one
representative from each participating Shuswap community:

Next Deadline Date for Proposals: TBA

Upcoming Meeting Dates:

These meetings are for Program Planning, as well as Proposal Reviews and Approvals.

Fall 1999 SNTC Boardroom

April 1999 SNTC Boardroom

#312 - 355 Yellowhead Highway
Kamloops, B.C. Canada
V2H 1H1
Phone: (250) 828-9789
Fax: (250) 374-6331

e-mail us at:sntcstep@secwepemc.org

Index

SNTC