N.J.S.A. 52:27D-43.28 — Hispanic women's demonstration resource centers.

52:27D-43.28 Hispanic women's demonstration resource centers. 4. The division shall establish not less than two but not more than five Hispanic women's demonstration resource centers; one in conjunction with an existing facility in southern New Jersey and the other in conjunction with an existing facility in northern New Jersey. The centers shall be established in locations serving populations of Hispanic women in northern and southern New Jersey through the issuance of grants to public or private nonprofit organizations servicing either women or Hispanic populations. In reviewing grant applications under this act, the division shall give due consideration to the needs of the Hispanic women in the municipality in which the applicant is located and surrounding area. The division shall develop comprehensive guidelines for the establishment, goals and operation of the centers. In carrying out the purpose of this act, the director shall consult with the Office of Hispanic Affairs. L.1990, c.83, s.4; amended 2007, c.39, s.11. 52:27D-43.29. Purpose of centers 5. The centers shall provide: a. Outreach to the Hispanic community to inform the community of the center's resources; b. Basic English language skills and bilingual and bicultural resources; c. Training in assertiveness, survival and coping skills; d. Educational evaluation services by a qualified bilingual counselor employed by the center, which services include screening, assessment and referral to basic educational, vocational training and other educational programs; e. Job counseling services which are specifically designed to prepare women to enter or reenter the work force by assisting them in acquiring knowledge of their talents and skills in relation to existing traditional and nontraditional job opportunities and to those which are emerging as a result of new employment trends; f. Self-help programs and mentoring projects, including workshops, group discussions, and dissemination of information about existing federal, State and local employment, education, health, and other community services which provide assistance in overcoming barriers to employment. These programs shall include outreach and information about other programs which are determined to be of interest and benefit to working parents, women newly entering or reentering the work force after a prolonged absence from it, those in need of financial management services, including information and assistance with respect to credit, insurance, taxes, loans and related financial matters, and women who need information about a diversity of housing problems; g. Career information services, job training including internships, and job placement services which assist participants in gaining admission to existing public and private job training programs and in gaining job opportunities by cooperating, whenever possible, with appropriate State and local government agencies and private employers. These training and placement services shall foster the development of partnerships with industry, particularly those concerns which are associated with urban enterprise zones, and the enhancement of the neighborhood and communities which surround the centers. To the extent possible, the training and placement services shall consult with the area private industry councils established pursuant to the provisions of the federal Job Training Partnership Act, Pub.L.97-300 (29 U.S.C. s. 1501 et seq.), and the Department of Labor and Workforce Development in order to help identify local job opportunities or areas of expansion in private industry; h. Information and referral services concerning: legal issues such as domestic violence, sexual assault, family support and sex discrimination; health care issues such as family planning, substance use disorder, nutrition and mental health; public assistance programs; and child care services. Each center may purchase services from or contract with individuals, county or municipal governments, school districts, county colleges or county vocational schools to carry out the provisions of this section. L.1990, c.83, s.5; amended 2023, c.177, s.147. 52:27D-43.30. Goals of center The centers and programs established under this act shall emphasize activities which provide training and other employment related services which are designed to enhance the employability and earnings of Hispanic women and impact on the quality of their lives and those of their families. The centers and programs shall, to the extent possible, identify existing job opportunities for women and assist those women who utilize the centers in obtaining employment. L.1990,c.83,s.6. 52:27D-43.31. Coordination of services The division shall make a study of employment needs of individuals who use the services of the centers and of existing programs and services which are effective in meeting those needs. The division shall also coordinate community organizations, women's groups, and public agencies to maximize the utilization of existing programs and resources. The coordination shall include, but not be limited to, the Office of Hispanic Affairs in the Department of Community Affairs, the Division of Vocational Education in the Department of Education, the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services in the Department of Labor, and the Division of Public Welfare in the Department of Human Services. The goal of this coordination shall be to put Hispanic women in touch with existing programs and to foster cooperation and the exchange of information among all departments and agencies of State government which sponsor employment and related programs of special interest to women. P.L.1990,c.83,s.7. 52:27D-43.32. Assessment information Each center shall compile and maintain a description and assessment of each program it operates pursuant to this act including, but not limited to, the following information: the number of women served; the number who enrolled in English language courses; the number given educational counseling; the number given career counseling; the number who obtained employment; the number who enrolled in educational or vocational courses; the number of those enrolled who completed the courses; the cost per woman for each enrollment in a program; the number who were referred for medical assistance; the number who were referred to domestic violence shelters; the number referred for government assistance; the number placed in jobs; the number no longer receiving public assistance funds; the number referred for legal assistance; and the total number of staff and the ratio of staff to persons served under the program. Data and findings shall be made available to the Governor and the Legislature annually. L.1990,c.83,s.8.

This is the verbatim text of N.J.S.A. 52:27D-43.28, retrieved from the New Jersey Legislature's public statute corpus. Statutes are amended periodically — for the most current version, check the external source link above. Kyzer is not a law firm and this page is not legal advice.