It is summer and the kids will be gearing up for Back to School in a few weeks, but you may be wondering, "Are they the only ones that should be gearing up to return to school?"  It may be a perfect time to reconsider the possibility of returning to obtain that very valuable education you've been pondering for what seems to be a lifetime.  But before we head out and enroll, here are some things you may want to consider before taking that final step into the world of academia:

1.     Why do you want to return?  Are you looking to obtain the credential necessary for a "better" job/career or simply tired of your current circumstances and looking for something new?  Always be sure to have the right reason or you may not have the necessary drive to see the decision through to completion.

2.    What is your specific goal?  If you are seeking to obtain your high school diploma/GED, that is quite clear and the goal does not need further thought.  However, if you already have your business degree and are seeking a more specialized certification or training, your options may be plentiful.  You may need to research and determine the exact course of action you'd like to take.

3.    Is it economically feasible at this time?  School can be costly, depending on your goals and institution of choice.  You may want to consider your current financial state, existing debts and financial obligations, and possible eligibility for various forms of financial aid.  Be sure to research these ahead of time and gather as much information and data as you ca  about aid that is not to be repaid as well as those that will require repayment in order to make a sound decision.  However, remember to also include the consideration of what financial benefits may result from obtaining the enhanced education.  This information may outweigh the temporary cost.  If necessary, seek the counsel of a consultant in the field to weigh these financial options.

4.  Is the best suited institution within your reach?  Various institutions have specific eligibility criteria.  Do you meet their requirements?  Is the campus accessible based on your needs and location (physically or online)?  Is the program a match for your goals?  Will the classes available to you meet the requirements of the goals you have set out to achieve?  Don't conform your goals to the classes available....be sure to choose those programs that meet the goals you have set!

5.  Is the support you need in place?  As adults, our life's responsibilities are many and varied.  You may have unique circumstances that you would seek support for.  Do you have the needed child care?  Do you have supporters in your corner?  Is your place of employment open to allowing time for study during your lunch time, breaks, and down time?    Will you be able to maintain a healthy work/study/life balance to ensure you minimize the possibility of feeling overwhelmed that may cause you to steer from your goals?

Consider this:  As adults, you also have the option of pursuing different types of programs including Certificate Programs, Degree programs, Continuing Education Units, and more!

Back to School is a term we hear often, but rarely think to apply to ourselves, as adults.  Now is as good a time as any to consider the possibility that 2010 may be the Back to School year for you!  It is never too late to achieve the goals we once had and have recently set for ourselves.  

During the school year, Texas schools feed more than 2.9 million meals a day, on average. Many of those same children will not have the meals they need during the summer. The Texas Department of Agriculture says that last year only 16% of that number took part in summer feeding programs across the state.

Commissioner Todd Staples wants to change that this year and has issued a challenge to mayors across the state of Texas.  Mayor Mike Moncrief (Fort Worth) and Mayor Robert Cluck ( Arlington) have accepted that challenge and have put in place dozens of sites across Tarrant County where kids can eat either breakfast, lunch, supper or snacks, depending on the sites.

The Summer Nutrition Programs provide nutritious meals at no charge to all children age 18 and younger at participating feeding sites. To participate, just show up. You don't need to register or get meal tickets and no one will ask for proof of income or age.

With the Dallas/Fort Worth region being home to several of the largest Aerospace companies in the United States, It seems only fitting to explore exciting career opportunities within this industry.

Aerospace includes the research, design, manufacturing and maintenance of aircrafts moving through air and space. Whether it's a jet, helicopter, airplane, or unmanned vehicle this industry produces equipment that can be used for military or civil transport. 

Have you ever wondered what it takes to design the F-22 Raptor or assemble the V-22 Osprey?

Over the next few weeks, Surviving a Layoff will be exploring some of the wrong turns job seekers can take while on the hunt for a new career.  During these trying times, looking for work can be even more challenging.  Plug in your internal GPS and let's take a spin.

   Wrong Turn #1: The more applications I submit, the more job offers I will get.

Many people believe that the key to finding a job is to submit hundreds of applications. Nothing could be further from the truth.  An application and resume for a job in human resources should look very different than a job and resume for a job in sales.  But I've worked with customers who submit the exact same resume for both jobs. If you'd like a real chance at either job, your resume should be tailored to that specific opening.  The employer needs to feel that you've given his company a great deal of thought and generic resumes just don't provide that level of concern.  It's a matter of quality over quantity.

Wrong Turn #2:  My experience and qualifications are the most important part of an interview.

Your experience and qualifications may have gotten you the interview, but your attitude, body language, and enthusiasm can be a tie-breaker.  Many employers want to make sure you'll fit into their team; no one wants a "Debbie Downer" in their organization. So, ask informed questions, make eye contact, and, for goodness sake, smile! Your authenticity may just land you that job.

Wrong Turn #3: Dumbing down my resume will open more doors.

Some job seekers believe that employers might be turned off by advanced degrees or high level positions. Although this perception might have some validity, it would be worse if the employer discovers these omissions after screening the application. Most employers value honesty too much for you to take a chance by omitting key parts of your work life.  Think of it this way, many employers do background checks before interviewing for key positions and the last thing either one of you wants are surprises.

A better approach might be to highlight accomplishments that mesh with the job. You can also explain your flexibility and willingness to share knowledge with team members and potential customers.

Next time, we'll look at wrong turns on the web, dealing with being fired from a previous job, and hidden job leads. 

This year's census is short, sweet, and to the point!  With only 10 questions to answer, you can be a part of some wonderful benefits to your community in just ten minutes! 

Here are some benefits to making sure you're counted!

·         Does your community need money for development?  The federal government allocates more than $400 billion to states and communities every year based, in part, on census data!  Census data can be used for writing grant proposals.

·         Does your community need more services?  Census data is used to determine locations for new retail stores, schools, hospitals, housing developments, and other facilities, such as highways, senior centers, and school lunch programs.  Local government uses census data to determine critical social services to implement and funding to provide in your local communities.

·         Does your community need effective representation?  Census data dictates boundaries for state and local legislative and congressional districts.  This data will determine the number of seats each state will have in the US House of Representatives.

·         Is your community experiencing severe traffic-related congestion and environmental effects?  Census data is used by transportation planners to determine traffic control needs, reduce traffic-related congestion, plan for parking, and develop plans for alternative forms of commuting locally.

Negative impacts of non-participation are numerous, but some include the following:

·         Ever wonder why certain areas seem to have more locally elected officials than yours?  Problems in redistricting.

·         Ever wonder why there are no translators for certain groups in your community?  Improper addressing of language barriers - Undercounting of Limited English Proficient (LEP) community members may limit elected officials' ability to secure funding for bilingual and ESL services.

·         Ever wonder why your school's student/teacher ratio is so much higher than that of a school one mile away?  The undercount of children can result in overcrowding of schools.

When you receive that questionnaire in the mail this March, just remember:  I'll answer 10 questions in 10 minutes and make a difference for a lifetime!  Let's all yell - Count me In!

Resources:  US Census Bureau

Jann Miles is the Director of Strategic Planning for Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County and is our resident expert for Labor Market Information and Green Jobs. 

Jann's previous article, Making the Right Choice, begins the discussion concerning up-grading your skills for your career.

Pell Grants are available to unemployed individuals who would like to upgrade their current skills or change occupations. Currently, Pell grants are $5, 350 per academic year. This means two semesters so if you get a Pell grant for the fall and spring semester, you will need to find other financial aid to also attend a summer session. Pell grants can pay for the following:

• Tuition and fees normally assessed;
• Books, supplies, transportation, and miscellaneous personal expenses;
• Living expenses such as room and board; and
• An allowance for costs expected to be incurred for dependent care for a student with dependents.

You may not be sure whether you are eligible to receive financial aid for school. I suggest if go online and fill out the Free Application for Student Federal Aid, commonly referred to as FASFA.  The application will walk you through the steps. One thing you might not be familiar with is the school codes. Each school has a code to insert on the form. There is a listing on the application of school codes or you can go to any school's financial aid web-site which will also display that school's code. These web-sites have great information. Remember, nobody knows more about student financial aid that the colleges or universities. They always have financial aid experts that will sit down with you and help direct you through this process. They are a great resource. The links for the colleges and universities listed below take you directly to their financial aid page. Also keep in mind that most colleges and universities have scholarships available only to their students, SO ASK about them.

Ø  Tarrant County College

Ø  University of Texas at Arlington

Ø  Texas Wesleyn University

Ø  University of North Texas

Finally, remember that you need to do your research before you finalize your choices. Some things to check:

Ø  Is the institution accredited? This means that your degree is recognized by the state.

Ø  Is the institution PELL grant eligible? If it is not, that means you cannot get Federal Student Aid.

Ø  Here is a Q & A for unemployed individuals on federal student aid that's got great information. This link is sponsored by the Department of Labor and the Department of Education and provides and email and phone number for further questions.

Ø  As stated in my last article, interview employers in the occupational areas in which you are seeking training and ask them which institutions they tend to hire from in your area. 

 The Texas Workforce Commission released some excellent information about the Work Opportunity Tax Credit:

CONTACT: Ann Hatchitt

TWC Certifies $219 Million in Federal Tax Credits for Texas Employers

Agency urges more employers to take advantage of tax savings

AUSTIN - Texas employers can reap substantial savings on their federal business income taxes by taking advantage of the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) program. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2009, the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) assisted businesses by certifying nearly $219 million in potential tax savings, available to Texas employers who hire from qualified targeted populations and apply for certification within 28 days of their start date.

 "As tax season is upon us, we want employers to take note and remember to take advantage of these savings this year," said TWC Chairman Tom Pauken.

Although TWC identified millions in savings for Texas employers, millions went unclaimed because employers did not apply for the credit on their eligible, newly hired workers. Fewer than 5 percent of Texas' more than 440,000 employers took advantage of WOTC in FY 2009. 

WOTC is designed to encourage employers to hire new employees from targeted groups of qualified job seekers who may face barriers to employment.  

Employers can save up to $2,400 per qualifying employee by hiring from these groups:

·         Unemployed veterans*

·         Disconnected youth*

·         Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) recipients

·         Ex-felons

·         Designated community residents

·         Vocational rehabilitation referrals

·         Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) benefit recipients (formerly known as food stamps).

·         Veterans receiving SNAP benefits

·         Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients

       Employers can save up to $4,800 for hiring:

·         Disabled veterans

       Employers can save up to $9,000 for hiring:

·         Long-term family assistance (TANF) benefit recipients

       Employers can save up to $1,200 for hiring:

·         Summer youth from empowerment zones or renewal counties

      *new group added in 2009 

"Our company saved $114,000 on our federal income taxes last year by hiring 85 qualifying employees to work in our restaurants," said Joseph Hicks, a certified public accountant for Wright Foods.

In 2009, two new groups were added to the list of those who qualify under the WOTC program. Veterans receiving unemployment benefits and 16- to 24-year olds who have not been regularly employed or attending school for at least six months prior to being hired are now included in the list of populations which qualify an employer for the tax credit.

Applications for the credits can be submitted year-round to TWC's WOTC Unit for certification. Within each target population, there are specific eligibility requirements, which TWC will verify before issuing the certifications.

All applications must be postmarked no later than 28 days from the qualifying worker's start date.  For more information employers may contact TWC's WOTC Unit at 1-800-695-6879 or visit the TWC Web site: www.twc.state.tx.us/svcs/wotc/wotc.html.

Forms to assist you in applying for WOTC:

Long-Term Family Assistance Recipients who began work after December 31, 2006 and before September 1, 2011, can earn their employers up to $9,000 if they are a member of a family:

• that received TANF for at least 18 consecutive months before the hire date: or
• whose TANF eligibility under federal or state law expired after August 5, 1997 (for applicants hired within two years after their eligibility expired); or
• that received TANF for at least 18 months, beginning after August 5, 1997, and is hired not more than two years after that 18-month period.

For more information about the Work Opportunity Tax Credit Program, or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or Medicaid State Tax Refund, please call the Texas Workforce Commission WOTC Unit at 1-800-695-6879.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency coordinates the federal government's role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror. FEMA can trace its beginnings to the Congressional Act of 1803. This act, generally considered the first piece of disaster legislation, provided assistance to a New Hampshire town following an extensive fire. In the century that followed, ad hoc legislation was passed more than 100 times in response to hurricanes, earthquakes, floods and other natural disasters.