BuRSST Programs

Microenterprise -- Community Based Business Training Program (CBBT)

In partnership with WA CASH, BuRSST is supporting economic development activities designed to address the economic needs of low-income residents, their families and distressed communities. The goals are to generate business ownership, financial literacy and savings opportunities that will lead to the economic self-sufficiency of the local communities. Long-term goals are to reduce or eliminate dependence upon public assistance, overcome unemployment or under-employment and to build the personal assets to remain self-sufficient.

The program will provide Washington CASH’s microenterprise development program to immigrant and refugee communities in the BuRSST area in a culturally appropriate way by training community representatives who will then train groups of potential entrepreneurs in their own languages and neighborhoods. After the business training is delivered to clients in their own communities -- WA CASH staff will help form peer lending groups, facilitate microloans and provide ongoing technical support.

The overall goals of this program are to generate self-sufficiency for up to 1,000 residents over the project period through new business development, expanded business activities, and new employment opportunities gained through participation with our programs.

Youth Entrepreneurial Program

In partnership with the Warren Miller Freedom Foundation and the Skyway Boys and Girls Club, BuRSST is supporting a youth entrepreneurship program during the summer and after-school in the Skyway community. The Warren Miller Freedom Foundation mentors’ go on-site to work directly with their students. These classes introduce youth to entrepreneurship and business – more importantly, the opportunity to discuss, plan and implement their own business ideas.

The program provides an opportunity for academic enrichment while promoting communication, teamwork and leadership skills through an interactive learning model. The program will enroll youth in middle schools, track and work with them until they graduate from high school. We hope that this long-term approach will enhance and provide a solid foundation for students to seek entrepreneurship opportunities and engage them into more post-secondary options to follow the path to prosperity.

Gateway Center

In partnership with Highline Community College, BuRSST proposes to establish a regional re-certification center—the Gateway Center—to provide career re-certification coursework and coaching, integrated English-as-a-Second-Language, and short-term professional courses to close skills gaps for adult immigrants and refugees who have formal training in healthcare. These educational programs and career planning will be offered in a comprehensive service-center that offers credentials interpretation, Prior Learning Experience evaluation, licensure guidance, and academic advising.

Potential students will begin with an evaluation of their basic skills proficiency, professional credentials, and experience – a Healthcare Bridge class will provide an overview of career options in the U.S. healthcare system. As students identify a specialty of interest, advisors will help them develop a pathway plan. These plans may include shorter-term credentials to provide a higher level of employment while the students continue their education. Finally, short-term courses will address specific gaps that are common in transitioning from one country’s healthcare system to another—for example, the U.S. appropriate maternal-child or psychiatric nursing content is typically missing from the background of nurses trained abroad.

Highline Community College, with support from BuRSST, has put forth a proposal to the State Board of Community and Technical Colleges to partially fund the project pilot phase to occur in the 08-09 academic year. This proposal demonstrates that Highline Community College has the student population, the faculty and staff expertise, the educational programs and partnerships, and a tested model on which to base a successful “welcome back” initiative in Washington, moving our new residents further and faster on their pathway to sustainable, meaningful and valuable jobs.

If funding is secured, the Gateway Center hopes to begin a project pilot phase in the 08-09 academic year.

Career Coaching

The BuRSST Career Coaching model is designed to provide intensive career coaching to low-wage workers in developing a strategic career advancement plan while accessing eligible work supports to ensure each career advancement step will increase total income until they reach a stable, family-wage job.

The Career Coach offers a variety of services intended to promote career advancement:

Coach clients to make strategic advancement decisions (place the receipt of work supports in the context of pursuing an advancement plan) (work supports – short term; advancement goals – long term);
Coach and advise around core skills, identify key strengths and keep clients motivated to stay on the advancement course.
Assist clients in seeking increases in wages or work hours with an emphasis on acquiring additional training and education through Opportunity Grants;
Connects clients to eligible work supports (public health insurance, childcare, tuition assistance, tax credits; which combined can increase income up to 40%) while navigating interaction between work supports and career advancement.

Dear Community Partner:

BuRSST for Prosperity is pleased to announce the release of a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for organizations interested in implementing the Career Coaching Program to increase the incomes and assets of low-income BuRSST residents.

BuRSST will be holding an RFQ Information Meeting on March 20, 2008 (location to be announced). This meeting is advisable, but not mandatory.

If you have questions please feel free to contact members of the BuRSST team:

Asosa Sailiai
asosas@chs-wa.org
(206) 527-3884

Diana Dollar
dianad@chs-wa.org
(206) 527-3885

View the BuRSST Career Coaching RFQ in PDF format

Need the Adobe Acrobate Reader? Download it for free here.

Starting Points Early Learning Initiative

BuRSST is supporting a partnership named “Starting Points” with other community partners to work with parents to determine the most effective early learning strategies. This interaction with parents will be used as a roadmap for the partnership to advocate for programs and services for parents and children in the Burien area.

The partnership includes New Futures, Para Los Ninos and BuRSST, plus United Way of King County and South FACES are supporting the project in an advisory role. BuRSST for Prosperity, along with the King County Children’s Commission and SOAR will make an investment in the project with New Futures serving as the fiscal sponsor.

Airport Jobs and Airport University

In partnership with Port Jobs, BuRSST supports the Airport Jobs program, which recruits BuRSST community members and assists them with employment at SeaTac International Airport. Airports Jobs reports a number of significant achievements made -- more BuRSST community residents gaining access to jobs, BuRSST placement outcomes 42% better than any other area, and a documented 70% increase in BuRSST resident hires at the airport.

Additionally, BuRSST continued its partnership with Port Jobs and South Seattle Community College to support Airport University. For the first time, SeaTac International Airport employees have access to educational opportunities designed to promote employment advancement and wage progression at the employment site. By offering these opportunities onsite, employees can obtain the skills they need for promotions and career development without having additional challenges of balancing work and school, such as traveling to another location to attend classes or training. BuRSST expects participation to increase over the next year as more employers and employees learn about Airport University.

Earned Income Tax Credit

For the third consecutive year, BuRSST has in part funded free tax preparation sites as part of United Way of King County’s yearly countywide campaign. The campaign allows individuals and families to claim all tax credits for which they are eligible, particularly the IRS Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). The IRS created the EITC to assist low-income individuals and families with tax relief. Unfortunately, the credit is often not claimed by eligible taxpayers often because they are simply unaware. By aiding BuRSST community members to claim all eligible tax credits and avoid paying tax preparation fees, the EITC Campaign helps local families keep more of their income. Historically from the 2005 and 2006 tax seasons, BuRSST supported sites were able to complete over 1,800 income tax returns responsible for returning nearly $2.6 million back to the BuRSST Community. In 2007 alone, more than $1.8 million in refunds were obtained.