FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                   

Contact:    Patricia Howell, Lee County Human Services
                (941) 278-7886 

LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS CAN BENEFIT FROM FREE JOB TRAINING

FORT MYERS, Fla. (July 23, 2002) – Lee County Human Services is looking for low-income, working individuals who would like to get free job training in medical office careers through the award-winning Lee Education & Employment (LEE) Program.  The six-month training begins the end of October.  Telephone interviews, screening and testing, which must be done ahead of time, are now being conducted. 

The LEE Program recently was awarded a national “Public Service Excellence Award” from the Washington, D.C.-based Public Employees Roundtable and was a recipient of a National Association of Counties 2001 Achievement Award for employment and training. 

The training is available for 15 people and is funded by a Community Service Block Grant.  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, up-grading 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 Skills Program. 

The Medical Office Skills Program 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 the end of October through May 2003. 

CSBG covers all costs for tuition, books, childcare, necessary car repair and emergency transportation while in school, and for possibly 90 days after graduation.  LEE participants must be employed but low income (125% of the poverty income guidelines, which is an annual income of $18,775 for a family of three).  More than 72 people have graduated since initial enrollment in October 1999.  Participants’ average wages have increased 80 percent after graduation. 

For more information contact Patricia Howell (278-7886) at Lee County’s Department of Human Services. 

Note to Editors: If your reporters would like to be set-up with individuals, who have gone through the program and are in new jobs, call Patricia Howell (278-7886).