Patricia K Gleich

The Older Worker Readiness Program, a demonstration program funded by the Kentucky Department for Employment Services during 1987-88, developed three centers to provide a combination of job search skills and literacy skills for individuals over 54 who want to enter the work force. A job placement component eventually was put in place for participants who finished the course. The three sites, developed in cooperation with existing agencies or organizations and using space on college campuses, were in a small city, a larger urban area, and a metropolitan area. The key instructional components of the program include (1) one-to-one tutoring; (2) reading, writing, math, and job search curricula; (3) instructors who also are older than 54 and who meet Job Training Partnership Act low income guidelines; (4) use of the language experience method; (5) active involvement of participants in the planning of the instruction in order to increase their feelings of self-worth and motivation to continue the program; (6) use of computer-assisted instruction; (7) materials that are appropriate for adult students; (8) materials that are job related when participants know what job they want to prepare for; and (9) opportunities to practice job contact calls and interviews. (The document includes information on staff selection and training, participant recruitment, goals and objectives, evaluation, and instructional materials. Sample letters, a description of the entrance testing procedure, counseling and tutoring forms, a sample workshop agenda, a participant data sheet, and profiles of older workers are included.) (CML)