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Show 9:CIAL FOLICY Older Worker Program part of the Jd:> Traini~ Partnership Act (JTPA) program, older workers can receive added help in the area of jd:> traini~ and referral. utah Issues ex>ntracted with the J'IPA program this January to provide statewide referral to older workers inquiring abcut this program. Utah Issues tells the caller where he or she can obtain help in the ex>rrect service delivery area. As Phyllis Jd'lnsoo, who works with the Older Worker Program at Utah Issues, says that ewer 400 potential clients have called for referral. She also rotes that ca1trary to p:,pilar belief, older workers are oot just locking for jobs that provide "pin m:ney." Many of these peq,le have fixed inccJneS and cannot meet their basic survival needs. Many callers have also ooted that they have ai;:plied for joos and oot been hired. Ni.ile the reason given is not the age of the ai;:plicant, many older pec:ple feel they are indeed discriminated against in the jcb market. '!he JTPA program offers several benefits to the older worker. First, job seardl assistance prograns are available. A joo CX>Unselor teaches the client to appreciate unique capabilities arx:i to sell them to employers. The CX>Wlselor also tries to match the needs arxi abilities of the client with employers looking for nore mature workers. Seoorx:i, on the job training -is available. 'Ibis option gives E!lployers an acxied incentive for hiri~ a client, by re.imb.lrsing them for part of the wages paid during traini~. Finally, there is oo--ca;t job traini~ available at area sctx:x:>ls and vocatiooal centers. Dependi~ oo wilere a client lives, traini~ options include adult basic education, office OCOJpations, health care, manufacturing, and other cptioos. After traini~, a joo ex>unselor helps the client to obtain a job. Important advantages to the program are that the average older worker earns nore than $5 per boor after carpletio;J the program, and there is no loss of Social Sea.irity benefits up to a certain level. Persons between 62 and 64 years old can earn up to $5, 760 a year, and persons 65 to 69 years old can make $7,800 annually and not lose any benefits. 'lhase over 70 years old have no ina:ine restrictioos. Utah Issues is a.irrently cooducting a follow up study to see how many referrals resulted in successful joo training or placenent. This is a critical factor in evaluati~ the overall success of the program in Utah. Sleryl Gillilan Social Policy Chair H4Z4RD0US V Lc.-rE ISSUES The University of Utah is planning to install • lovlevel radioa-ctive end h6ZM"dous 'W8Ste packaging and storage facility on Guardsman Vay, about midway ben.-een 5th South and Sunnyside Avenue. The proposed one-story 7,500 squarefoot facility vi11 t>e tucked a-way behind a nev sl>()tt complex the Univeristy intends to build on the property recently aqui.re<J from the National Guard. The University currently ships approximately 30 drums of hazardous materials a man th from two date<l structures located adjacent to a S't'Uden t apartment complex near the University Medical Center. Residents of the Yal.ecrest Community Council are proposing that the University re-locate the proposed storage facility much closer to the source of generation. The residents ere concerned about the logistics end potential problems 'with transportation of these hazardous materials as -well as the devaluation of the porperty in nearby environs. The residents ere currently circulating petitions and intend to petition the State Building Board on April 23rd. - Kate M.Perk JTPA also prcwides a variety of services to make training and jd:> seardles easier. 'Ibey include: transportation expenses; uniform and tool allowances; arx:i limited medical, dental and c.ptical care. Salt Late Voter -J- April 1987 |
