Specifications include, but are not limited to: The State Refugee Office is looking for experienced vocational training and English Language Instruction providers to provide services to refugees and other populations who are eligible for services as defined by the Office of Refugee Resettlement. Eligible population include refugees; asylees; Afghan Humanitarian Parolees, Ukrainian Humanitarian Parolees, Cuban/Haitian Entrants; Certified Victims of Trafficking; Iraqi or Afghan Special Immigrants; Amerasians and permanent lawful residents who have held any of these statuses in the past. For this document, eligible persons will hereafter be referred to as “refugees.” The area of service is statewide with a focus on areas where refugees are living and are employed or plan to seek employment – namely Chittenden County and the Brattleboro/Bennington areas. Help eligible refugees stay in Vermont and attain economic self-sufficiency by acquiring skills required for job retention and professional advancement through technical training and English language learning. Developing a skilled workforce aligned with the needs of local employers and the greater community. Successful awardees will contribute to these goals by: Providing refugees with vocational training that leads to employment or professional advancement Providing English Language Learning to refugees Providing a combination of vocational training and English Language Learning to refugees in a workplace or vocational training environment To accomplish this goal, Grantees must provide services in accordance with 45 C.F.R. Part 400. Services must be available at a variety of times that accommodate refugee participant schedules. Grantees must provide one or more of the three services listed in the above paragraph. Grantees should implement systems for evaluating the effectiveness of the services provided. Preference will be given to grantees with demonstrated experience providing Vocational training and/or English Language Instruction and to grantees partnering with agencies who have experience working with refugees. Grantees should direct funding to localities with the greatest need for Refugee Retention Program services based on existing resources and concentration of newly or recently arrived ORR-eligible adults (over the past 5 years). Grantees must develop program outcomes that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART). Grantees must ensure Refugee Retention Program services provided to ORR-eligible populations complement, not duplicate, other state or federally funded activities. Refugee Retention Program funds must not be used to supplant services provided under other federal and ORR funding sources. Program Activities: The Refugee Retention Program should focus on providing direct services for ORR-eligible populations to prepare them for employment and self-sufficiency. Activities may include: Vocational training that leads to employment or upgrading May include credentialing programs, certificate programs, or advanced professional training Job readiness training including interview skills, resume writing and workplace ethics and behavior English language training English language training in the workplace or in conjunction with vocational training Computer skills that are contextualized for the workplace
