Two divisions within the Ho-Chunk Nation Department of Labor
offer employment services. Those
divisions are the Tribal Workforce Development (TWD) Division and the 477
Federal Program (477). Both programs assist Ho-Chunk Nation enrolled
members, tribal members of all federally recognized tribes, and direct
descendants.
The divisions have experienced a lull in clientele and
travel the last year because of COVID. However,
now that communities are starting to open up, the divisions are planning to visit
various areas to inform the Indigenous communities of their services.
“The mission of the TWD Division is to assist the Nation in
recruitment and retention, success planning, training and development programs
for tribal members,” explained Tribal Workforce Development Manager William
Collins.
“The 477 program is a federally funded program. We run under a three year contract and we are
just starting a new one. We only work
within 39 counties in Wisconsin. We do a
lot of similar things that TWD does, except the client has to be enrolled in
our program, be without a job for at least seven days, and if they want our
services, they have to notify us before they accept a job. We have a few different guidelines than the
TWD does,” stated Federal Programs Director Lois Behrens.
The 477 program provides a Limited Term LTT Program,
Classroom Training Program, Supportive Services, and Youth Vocational
Exploration Program.
The TWD Division assists Ho-Chunk Nation enrolled members and
includes tribal members of all federally recognized tribes, or a spouse or
parent of a dependent enrolled Ho-Chunk Nation tribal member. Additionally, their service area covers the
entire United States and is not exclusive to Wisconsin.
The 477 program assists applicants who are members of a
federally recognized tribe or must show proof they are a direct
descendant. Their service area covers 39
counties in Wisconsin that include Eau Claire, Fond du lac, Grant, Green, Green
Lake, Iowa, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, La Crosse, Lafayette, Lincoln,
Marathon, Marinette, Marquette, Monroe, Pierce, Pepin, Price, Richland, Rock,
Sauk, Shawano, St. Croix, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vernon, Walworth, Waushara, and
Wood.
“The TWD Division would be a great start for tribal members
to engage in job searching and take full advantage of our networking not
limited to other tribal programs or other tribal Nation programs but also the
local job centers within each of the Wisconsin counties and the eleven
workforce development boards and their workforce development agencies,”
suggested Collins.
The employment services can include job connections,
in-house workshops, assistance with completing job applications and online
applications, resume customization, mock interviews and interview preparation,
and cover letter completion. In
addition, for those residing outside of Wisconsin, the TWD Division assists
with linking applicants to a local workforce development agency in their field
of work within their State.
The supportive services that the 477 program offers include
gas vouchers, assistance with purchasing uniforms, specialized shoes or boots,
and tools (no power tools). Other benefits
are approved on a case-by-case basis. Applicants
must be enrolled in the 477 program before starting employment to receive these
services.
Similarly, the TWD Division’s supportive services include
assistance with work attire, outdoor clothing, footwear, essential tools, and
personal safety equipment. Specialized tools,
power tools, computers, and transportation are not included. Transportation comprises gas, public
transport such as city buses, trolleybuses, trams or light rail, passenger
trains, rapid transit, taxis, and similar services such as Uber and Lyft.
The 477 program also offers a classroom training
program. The program intends to provide
classroom training to increase employability in a client’s field of
interest. The program assists with tuition
and books for five or fewer credits, specialized training, certifications, and
workshops.
Along those same lines, the TWD Division offers financial
assistance for training, education, and Continuing Education Units. These funds can help pay for tuition,
lodging, fees, and books. Also, the
program assists with reimbursement for certifications and licensures.
“Assistance may be approved if the requestor has provided a
well written statement regarding the benefits of attending,” explained William
Collins. “This statement is the basis
for request approval. The statement must
be provided to obtain training or classes that are necessary to improve the
employability or to help maintain employment or advancement of the
requestor. The statement helps to
provide insight for a decision if the person is ineligible for funding through
the Ho-Chunk Nation Higher Education Division or other tribal or State program
or ineligible for Federal Student Aid.”
One area that increased for the TWD Division during the
pandemic was assistance with Unemployment questions, filing initial claims, and
filing weekly claims. They collaborated
with the Ho-Chunk Nation Personnel Department Unemployment Insurance Specialist
on this endeavor.
The TWD Division refers applicants to the 477 program for
services they do not offer. Two of those
services are the LTT Program and the Youth Vocational Exploration Program.
The LTT Program is to provide training experience in a work
setting. The 477 program pays for 240
hours with no overtime to a client. The
department providing the training has the option to hire the client as a
limited term employee or permanent employee at the completion of the hours. This program can only be offered once a year
to a client.
“Managers and clients are encouraged to contact us,” boosted
Lois Behrens. The 477 program welcomes
managers from inside and outside the Ho-Chunk Nation searching for workers.
The Youth Vocational Exploration Program primarily helps
participants working towards their GED, HSED, or high school diploma. The program pays up to 240 hours total per
program year. Potential worksites
include the Ho-Chunk Nation, non-gaming positions, and non-profit organizations. Immediate family members of the youth cannot
be supervisors.
“TWD is also responsible for compliance monitoring on behalf
of the Ho-Chunk Nation for the Wisconsin Department of Transportation Native
American Hiring Provision (NAHP),” revealed Tribal Workforce Development
Manager Collins. “The Provision is a
Standardized Special Provision which is part of a project contract that
requires the contractor on a construction project to provide information about
hiring and employment opportunities for members of a Federally Recognized Tribe
in Wisconsin. The NAHP applies when the
project corridor is on, partially on, or directly adjacent to a reservation or
land that maintains reservation status.
The provision also applies to projects off reservation if there is a
tribally owned parcel held in trust directly adjacent to the right of way of
the corridor of that project.”
Contact the TWD Division at 715-284-5877 or email twd@ho-chunk.com with questions. William Collins, Julie Rodriguez, or Delores
Krause will respond.
Contact the 477 program at 715-284-5877 or email Lois.Brehrens@ho-chunk.com or Stormy.Perry@ho-chunk.com, or Curtis.Redbird@ho-chunk.com.