Partners in Careers (PIC) works with hundreds of families and individuals to help them become economically self-sufficient. They do this through job training, coordination of support services and job placement. PIC works with youth, families with children, refugees, low-income seniors and adults facing multiple challenges to employment such as homelessness, debt, addiction and mental illness. To support their mission to create a strong, healthy, working community PIC has created five different programs:

Community Jobs: This program is made possible through work with the Washington State Department of Commerce. The program serves parents with dependent children on public assistance. The Partners in Careers Staff work with parents to provide training, job search, work experience and also works to address challenges with legal issues and health. Each year approximately 400 families are served through the Community Jobs program.

Immigrant Language Skills: This program is designed to help immigrants & refugees coming to America to learn language skills and secure placement in the workforce.

Homeward Bound Veterans: Serves veterans and their families in our community by connecting them to services including housing and employment. No veteran is turned away by PIC. PIC has a commitment to find a way to connect veterans to our community services.

YouthFirst: YouthFirst has four different programs to help serve local students with an opportunity to gain work experience as well as career exploration opportunities. The four programs include:

• In-School Program which helps high school juniors and seniors in Vancouver Public Schools, Evergreen Public Schools, La Center Public Schools, and Battle Ground Public Schools work toward professional and personal goals that will guide them toward successful lives.

The Workforce Investment Act Out of School Program helps young adults ages 16-21 obtain vocational training, education and skills training. The program provides support for those who have dropped out of school with employment, intense case management, employment readiness trainings, careers exposure and a three-month work experience in a high grown, high-demand sector such as manufacturing, healthcare or IT. The students also interact with local employers through job shadows, group tours and mock interviews.

• The Juvenile Recovery Court works with students dealing with the court system and dealing with substance abuse. Youth will work in collaboration with a county social worker, probation counselors and a YouthFirst staff member to further their education and participate in work experiences and employment training.

YouthBuild Vancouver works with at-risk youth to help them obtain their high school diploma or GED. They will also teach other work-related skills through on-site work experiences, community service activities, and academic trainings.

Roots to Road: Roots to road is an innovative partnership at Clark County's Heritage Farm that teaches veterans small scale farming and related employment.

How You Can Help

• Join their Board of Directors or an Advisory Committee

• Make a donation, which can be made on-line and which goes directly to help veterans, youth and parents with training and other costs related to becoming self-sufficient. Please consider becoming a supporter of PIC today.