FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                   

Contact:   Lynn Northrop and Patricia Howell, Lee County Human Services,
                (239) 278-7887

NEW SERVICE LINKS RESIDENTS WITH TRAINING/EDUCATION REFERRALS

FORT MYERS, Fla. (June 17, 2002) – Lee County Human Services is offering a new service that links citizens with programs that can further their job training and education. 

The program is called LearnLink, and it provides free information and referrals to job training and education programs. 

LearnLink case managers maintain a database of more than 35 possible providers of job training, education programs, financial assistance options, literacy programs, government-sponsored programs and vocational programs. 

The case managers – Lynn Northrop and Patricia Howell – have culled the database from their work at the Southwest Florida Workforce Development Board’s Career and Service Center in Lee County, 4150 Ford Street Extension. 

To access LearnLink, call (239) 936-5657. 

A comprehensive telephone interview is conducted with each caller where the case managers determine financial eligibility, educational levels, employment history and life aspirations.  They then search their database and make recommendations to the client.  

The target users of this service include low-income households, high school dropouts, low-skilled workers, the elderly, persons with disabilities, non-English speakers, public housing residents and former welfare recipients. 

Lee County Human Services provides a complement of integrated services to low-income families and disadvantaged neighborhoods, including emergency financial assistance, housing assistance, counseling services, housing rehabilitation, neighborhood infrastructure improvements and neighborhood building, and services for the homeless.  The department employs 42 people and has a Fiscal Year 2002 budget of $16.9 million.