Contact: Sharon Crull, Lee County Human Services

(941) 656-7907, or Lynn Northrop, 656-7910

LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS CAN BENEFIT FROM FREE JOB TRAINING

FORT MYERS, Fla. (February 11, 2000) – Lee County Human Services is looking for low-income, working individuals who would like to get free job training in medical office careers. The six-month training begins April 25 but screening and testing must be done ahead of time.

The training is available for 15 people through the Community Service Block Grant (CSBG) Lee Education & Employment Program (LEE). The federal grant gives low-income persons the opportunity to raise their incomes and enter a new career. The targeted applicant is usually working at a low-level service industry job. He or she must have a high school diploma or GED.

All applicants are given the Test of Adult Basic Education. If they score below the 10^th-grade level, upgrading assistance can be provided to raise the score to a passing level. They’ll then be enrolled in Edison Community College’s Continuing Education Program in the medical office “track.” Because the grant is aimed at working households, all testing, upgrading, classes and internships are in the evenings.

The medical track provides training in front office (clerical) positions for hospitals, doctor’s offices and medical billing and coding companies. The class runs two nights a week from April through September and consists of keyboarding, computer skills, medical terminology, medical billing and coding, an internship in a medical facility, and assistance with job placement.

CSBG covers all costs for tuition, books, childcare, necessary car repair and emergency transportation while in school, and for possibly 90 days after graduation. Their children can participate in grant-funded extracurricular activities such as summer camps, sports and the arts. Once participants have worked 90 days in a job after graduation, they may be eligible for a special automobile bank-loan program to buy viable transportation. Maximum household incomes to participate are $20,875 (four-person household), $17,300 (three people) and $13,825 (two people).

For more information contact Sharon Crull (656-7907) or Lynn Northrop (656-7910) at Lee County’s Department of Human Services.