1. Refugee and Employment Services The mission of LSS Employment Services is to help families gain self sufficiency through employment.

2. What is LSS Employment Services? LSS employment services provides intensive customized job search assistance and soft skills job training for refugees, asylees and natural-born American clients. Once a client is employed, LSS provides follow-up and works with employers to increase their understanding of the culture and customs of their employees. LSS assists approximately 1,000 individuals annually.

3. Misconceptions & The Truth About our Refugee Clients • All refugees receive more welfare than other groups • One time resettlement stipend of $425 • They have to pay back their travel expenses (approximately $1,500) • Refugees are uneducated and uninterested in learning English • Many refugees are well educated and were nurses, doctors, engineers, administrators…etc. in their home countries. • ESL & cultural orientation classes

4. Misconceptions & The Truth About our Refugee Clients • They have no prior work experience • Most have been previously employed and are eager to contribute to the workforce • They do not want to integrate • Refugees adapt many aspects of their lives to their host culture • Many want to be citizens and are enrolled in citizenship classes

5. Why should you hire a refugee? Refugees… • Are authorized to work • Have a variety of skill sets • Are eager to work and learn new skills • Want a job to support their families • Came here to improve their lives • Have a high job retention rate

6. Other reasons you should hire our clients • All of our clients are ready and able to work. • We provide you with highly motivated employees. • Our clients have LSS support in the other aspects of their lives, so they can focus on work while on the job. • Reduce your costs of advertising open positions by coming to us first.

7. How Does LSS Employment Services Help Our Clients? Classes we offer: • Basic and Advanced Computer classes • Customer Service and Janitorial trainings • Workplace English • Advanced Job Orientation We have a variety of in-house programs that help all our clients prepare for the demands of employment and help refugee clients understand Western work culture. After completing our programs we have candidates who we can confidently recommend to you to fulfill various entry level positions.

8. Continued Support • Follow up to ensure client and employer success • Provide on-the-site coaching, interpretation, and assistance as needed • If offered employment, LSS will continue follow up services for 90 days

9. LSS Employment Services Danielle Smith Employment Resource Developer Refugee and Employment Services Lutheran Social Services Danielle.smith@lssmn.org 2400 Park Avenue South Minneapolis, MN 55404 612-879-5277 www.lssmn.org