Hard at Work: Crow Wing County Unemployment Assistance Agencies
By Sheila Helmberger
The unfortunate increase of unemployed workers in the nation is resulting in one group that doesn’t have to look hard for work. The staff at area social service offices, work centers, and employment offices see more than their share of foot traffic these days.
Dale Parks, Supervisor of Income Maintenance in Crow Wing County said his office has seen a substantial increase in the number of residents coming for help. “Going back six months, our total open cases in June 2008 was 4,528. In January of this year we were at 4,772,” he said. That’s an increase of almost 250 cases. “Our total number of (open) cases is the highest level we’ve ever been at. Not only have people applied at greater rate,” said Parks, “but those that get assistance are staying on longer.”
Food support and medical assistance are the areas that Parks says most people need their help to acquire.The bad news is they aren’t able to help everyone.
“We have many people come in and apply who are not eligible for aid,” said Parks, “They may have been laid off but they surpass the asset limits and we’re not able to help them. Our increase in numbers for open cases doesn’t even reflect the numbers we have to deny because of assets.” Many times when you’ve been working you have recreational vehicles or multiple vehicles and that may cost you help when you need it.
Parks said they can still help by directing people to other places. They send many to Bridges of Hope or Lutheran Social Services to see what they can offer. They also send clients to the WorkForce Center. Staffed by Rural MN CEP (Minnesota Concentrated Employment Program), this private non-profit organization contracts with the state to help workers in their search for new employment.
Jason Cummings is a resource development specialist at the MN CEP administration office in Detroit Lakes. He said his office encompasses 19 counties, including Crow Wing, and they operate eight WorkForce Centers. He said a number of the people that come into his office had been in their current positions for 10 – 20 years before they were laid off and most have no idea where to start looking for new employment.
“The first thing we do is an assessment,” said Cummings, “Do they have skills that are marketable? We help them brush up their resume, do mock interviews. Maybe they have to be retrained. We help get them up to speed. Sometimes we are able to offer on the job training or help someone try out a job,” said Cummings. They also offer services like computer high-speed internet connection, e-mail access, phones, fax machine use and printers to aid with the job search.
“There are things available,” said Cummings, about the employment market. “There are people that are still hiring.” Patience might be the key to finding a new job. “Right now, because of the downturn and surplus of workers,” explained Cummings, “Employers can be more selective and it can take longer. There may be more screening before they hire than in the past.”
“When people get laid off they get a feeling of being worthless,” said Cummings, “Hopefully when they come in and meet with our people, they realize they do have something to offer. When they know that – the more successful they will be in their job search.”
Ironically, Parks said even though his office has seen an increase in their own work load, the current economic situation means they are unable to hire additional help, too. “We’re in the same boat as the rest of the country. [We are] Working with reduced dollars but seeing more and more people needing to receive our services.” He doesn’t see that changing for awhile, either. He also said it’s too early to tell how any stimulus dollars may help with their own situation or the programs they offer. “We just don’t know yet,” said Parks, “how those dollars will affect us and it might be a little while.”
The Income Maintenance office in Brainerd is located on the second floor of the Community Service Building in Brainerd. For more information, call (218) 824-1250. The WorkForce Center is located at 204 Laurel Street, Suite 21, Brainerd. For more information on the services they offer call 828-2450.
The unfortunate increase of unemployed workers in the nation is resulting in one group that doesn’t have to look hard for work. The staff at area social service offices, work centers, and employment offices see more than their share of foot traffic these days.
Dale Parks, Supervisor of Income Maintenance in Crow Wing County said his office has seen a substantial increase in the number of residents coming for help. “Going back six months, our total open cases in June 2008 was 4,528. In January of this year we were at 4,772,” he said. That’s an increase of almost 250 cases. “Our total number of (open) cases is the highest level we’ve ever been at. Not only have people applied at greater rate,” said Parks, “but those that get assistance are staying on longer.”
Food support and medical assistance are the areas that Parks says most people need their help to acquire.The bad news is they aren’t able to help everyone.
“We have many people come in and apply who are not eligible for aid,” said Parks, “They may have been laid off but they surpass the asset limits and we’re not able to help them. Our increase in numbers for open cases doesn’t even reflect the numbers we have to deny because of assets.” Many times when you’ve been working you have recreational vehicles or multiple vehicles and that may cost you help when you need it.
Parks said they can still help by directing people to other places. They send many to Bridges of Hope or Lutheran Social Services to see what they can offer. They also send clients to the WorkForce Center. Staffed by Rural MN CEP (Minnesota Concentrated Employment Program), this private non-profit organization contracts with the state to help workers in their search for new employment.
Jason Cummings is a resource development specialist at the MN CEP administration office in Detroit Lakes. He said his office encompasses 19 counties, including Crow Wing, and they operate eight WorkForce Centers. He said a number of the people that come into his office had been in their current positions for 10 – 20 years before they were laid off and most have no idea where to start looking for new employment.
“The first thing we do is an assessment,” said Cummings, “Do they have skills that are marketable? We help them brush up their resume, do mock interviews. Maybe they have to be retrained. We help get them up to speed. Sometimes we are able to offer on the job training or help someone try out a job,” said Cummings. They also offer services like computer high-speed internet connection, e-mail access, phones, fax machine use and printers to aid with the job search.
“There are things available,” said Cummings, about the employment market. “There are people that are still hiring.” Patience might be the key to finding a new job. “Right now, because of the downturn and surplus of workers,” explained Cummings, “Employers can be more selective and it can take longer. There may be more screening before they hire than in the past.”
“When people get laid off they get a feeling of being worthless,” said Cummings, “Hopefully when they come in and meet with our people, they realize they do have something to offer. When they know that – the more successful they will be in their job search.”
Ironically, Parks said even though his office has seen an increase in their own work load, the current economic situation means they are unable to hire additional help, too. “We’re in the same boat as the rest of the country. [We are] Working with reduced dollars but seeing more and more people needing to receive our services.” He doesn’t see that changing for awhile, either. He also said it’s too early to tell how any stimulus dollars may help with their own situation or the programs they offer. “We just don’t know yet,” said Parks, “how those dollars will affect us and it might be a little while.”
The Income Maintenance office in Brainerd is located on the second floor of the Community Service Building in Brainerd. For more information, call (218) 824-1250. The WorkForce Center is located at 204 Laurel Street, Suite 21, Brainerd. For more information on the services they offer call 828-2450.
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