OKMULGEE – The MCN Employment and Training’s Adult Work Experience Program provides hands-on work experience for adults 22 and over. The program is designed to help citizens develop skills and help them move into full-time employment.
MCN ET Manager Jessina Factor (Mvskoke) spoke about how the program has been ongoing for quite some time and has since expanded. She said that the program falls under their Career Readiness Program.
“What we do is, we make sure individuals are career ready or job ready before placing them on the work program. We work with businesses outside the Nation and departments within the Nation. They have to sign a work-site agreement stating that they’ll hire the individual if they meet the work-site expectations. The goal is to get them full-time permanent employment,” Factor stated.
Factor has seen individuals within the work experience program go into a wide variety of jobs and career fields- welding, construction, clerical, and medical clinic. She’s worked with the MCN Department of Health and veterinary clinics in placing program participants.
“It’s just whatever business is willing to work with us, and as long as we can meet in the middle with this client,” Factor said.
During this program, the MCN ET prepares a case plan with the individual to help them reach their goals and address any barriers they may encounter along the way. For example, if a work site requires a driver’s license, MCN ET can help with the associated fees or even send them to a driver’s ed school in Okmulgee.
Factor knows this program can help others, as she has firsthand experience participating in it.
“I got on it, it was just a point in time when I was really trying to better myself. That’s what we do is make the program for us individuals that have those barriers that just need a chance, or it could be somebody graduating college, and they don’t have that experience so we try to give them that hand up, just to help them get their foot in the door and they get to do the rest,” Factor said.
“We’ll be there to assist them, guide them, motivate them. If we have to provide support services to help them become successful, we’ll look at doing that. But I really believe in it because it gave me a chance when I needed it, and I’m still here today.”
Citizens wanting to participate in the Adult Work Experience Program must be 22 and older, a member of a federally recognized tribe, reside within the MCN Reservation, and meet income guidelines. Participants must also be willing to obtain a high school diploma or GED and have, or be willing to obtain, a valid driver’s license.
Factor shared that the department offers more than just their Work Experience Program; they also offer resume help, job searching, and, if they want to look into other Career Readiness Programs, they can assist in that area.
Anyone wanting to learn more about the Adult Work Experience Program or other MCN ET programs can contact the department at 918-732-773 or eta@muscogeenation.com.
Applications are also on the MCN ETA website under MCN Employment and Training: click the Career Readiness Program and choose the application you’re applying for.
