2. Table of Content
About the Alliance
Information about Merchanical Drafter
Information about Electronic Drafter
Information about Electrical Drafter
Information about Architectural Drafter
About the Program
3. About the Alliance
Since our inception in July of 1985—nearly thirty years ago—Alliance for Multicultural
Community Services has managed to transform the lives of countless refugees. The
Alliance aspires to help people achieve independence and success as they acclimatize to
their new lives here in the United States.
The Alliance’s Programs:
Refugee Resettlement Services
The goal of the Refugee Resettlement Program is to promote early self-sufficiency and
cultural adjustment among newly arrived refugees. The program provides core services in
a linguistically and culturally appropriate manner for recently arrived refugees, who have
fled their countries because of war or persecution. Alliance is a resettlement
affiliate/branch office of the Ethiopian Community Development Council, Inc. (ECDC).
Through ECDC, we provide Reception and Placement (R&P) services. These R&P
activities are paid for, in part, through financial assistance by the Department of State.
R & P Services:
The Reception & Placement Services provided to refugees are: airport pick-up, initial
housing, furnishings, food, clothing, and orientation. Additionally, we provide counseling
and assistance in accessing programs and benefits for which refugees are eligible. For
example, transportation assistance, medical and employment referrals, school enrollment,
sponsorship of relatives overseas, and assistance with applications for Social Security,
Food Stamps, and Medicaid.Core services are made available for at least 30 days after a
refugee’s arrival, while Reception and Placement follow-up and self-sufficiency services
are provided at a minimum, for the first 180 days of a refugee’s arrival.
Matching Grant:
Refugees receive cash assistance and employment either through the Matching Grant
program or Refugee Cash Assistance. The goal of the Matching Grant program is to guide
refugee households toward economic self-sufficiency within six months of eligibility.
Economic self-sufficiency means earning a total family income at a level that enables a
family unit to support itself without receipt of additional cash assistance. MG offers
refugees short-term cash, rental, and medical assistance; employment training and
placement, and extra focus on support services, such as English language instruction,
childcare and transportation subsidies. MG tends to give more help at first, but end
sooner. It is beneficial for clients who can secure employment quickly.
Refugee Cash Assistant:
Refugees receive cash assistance and employment either through the Matching Grant
program or Refugee Cash Assistance. Through this program, participants receive cash
and rental assistance during their first four months while their total income is less than
125% of the Federal Poverty Income Level. Participants receive cash assistance during
their 5th-8th months if their income is less than 165% of the Federal Poverty Income
Level.
4. Preferred Communities:
The Preferred Community Program offers intensive case management services to clients
with special needs, including single mothers, youth without parents, seniors who lack
family support and those with mental health and medical needs. Through one-on-one
assistance, case managers assist clients who require extended help in order to integrate
and adjust.
Social Adjustment Services:
Social Adjustment Services are aimed at addressing the barriers that refugees typically
face and strengthen the ability of a refugee individual, family, or refugee community to
achieve and maintain economic self-sufficiency, family stability, and community
integration.
Refugees resettling in Houston, Texas are able to participate in a consortium-wide
provision of comprehensive services, a unique model partnering five of Houston’s major
resettlement agencies to provide holistic, culturally and linguistically competent and cost
effective services to refugees. With Alliance as the lead agency, this long standing model
partnership of social adjustment services has successfully assisted thousands with the
acculturation process and with becoming self-sufficient.
Case Managers serve refugees through orientation, advocacy, and active assistance with
service access. The SAS program hold regular Refugee Health Education events. These
health fairs provide refugees and low-income residents with critical services such as
health screening and vaccinations. The SAS program has also developed a mental health
assessment tool with Dr. Banu of the Center for International Trauma Survivors, which
has led to greater awareness of mental health issues and capacity to refer individuals to
follow-up care.
Employment Services:
Alliance Employment Counselors provide intensive job search assistance, job readiness
and job skills training for refugees and asylees. Alliance assists approximately 750
individuals annually. The Employment Counselors regularly lead orientations that are
directly related to job readiness and retention. The Job Orientation sessions are based on
strong evidence that culturally-competent, small group instruction is highly effective at
helping participants acquire new skills and knowledge. The Employment Department also
organizes quarterly job fairs, which are well attended by employers and refugee clients.
After a participant is placed successfully in a job, the Employment Counselors provide
follow-up services for several months. In terms of long-term support, our Employment
Department reaches out to refugees resettled within the past five years to encourage them
to attend job fairs, vocational training and other events or classes.
Alliance Language Network
Interpreters:
Our interpreters are the voice for your multilingual customers and the communication
medium between your customers and service representatives. That voice must be
accurate, clear, and precise. That voice must also consistently demonstrate the ability to
accurately conserve the meaning of a source language when rendering it into English—at
an efficient pace without omissions or additions. That’s the goal of AMCS’s Language
Without Boundaries basic interpreter training program, which culminates in advanced-
5. level certification opportunities.
Benefits:
According to latest US Census, more than 46 million people, or approximately 17 percent
of the U.S. population, speak a language other than English in their homes, a number that
is projected to increase in the coming decades. For this growing portion of the population,
poor communication while accessing social & healthcare services can result in serious
consequences.
Adult Education and Training Program:
ESL Classes:
ESL classes are offered from 9AM-12PM, 12:30 PM- 3:30PM, and 5:30PM to 8:30PM.
All class are Monday-Thursday. Students are expected to attend a minimum of 75% of all
classes, and are progress tested after 60 hours. AMCS offers four levels of instruction;
Basic, Beginning, Intermediate, and Advanced. All students are required to attend an
orientation, conducted in the students’ native language whenever possible, prior to
enrolling in class (see orientation schedule for days and times). Students must register in
person, and a valid picture ID is required, social security cards are preferred. Attendance
on the first day of classes is mandatory.
Low cost childcare is offered for children ages six months to 6 years while their parents
attend classes. The cost is $100 per ten week session, per child. Due to high demand,
there is a limit of two children per parent for morning classes. Current vaccination
records are required for children prior to enrollment. AMCS Adult Education collaborates
with Houston Metro in order to provide Q cards for students at a 50% discount.
Workforce Training Classes:
AMCS, in partnership with Houston Community College and the United Way of Greater
Houston is now offering AutoCAD training with a contextualized support class. Houston
Community College provides an instructor to conduct the skills training, so the students
receive a certificate from HCC upon successful completion of the program. The support
class consists of contextualized reading, writing, and math for AutoCAD as well as career
planning, job search as well as resume and cover letter writing as well as interviewing
practice. This model of training allows students to quickly complete certificate programs
in high demand occupations while improving their English and other basic skills
including job readiness, resume writing, and job search skills with a curriculum
specifically designed for the occupation for which they are training. This model also
allows AMCS to enroll students at lower functioning level than would normally be
accepted for a training program because the students are receiving the support of the adult
education instructor in English, reading, writing and math that is directly related to what
they are learning in the skills training classes. This model has been extremely successful
in getting students through the training programs successfully, and into jobs. All job
training participants also enroll with our Financial Opportunity Center in order to take
advantage of their bundled services. Upon enrolling in the program, students will be able
to utilize the following services—income support counseling, career and financial
coaching in order to achieve financial stability and mobility. In addition to coaching, our
center offers several asset building tools for individuals, including the Small Business
Administration (SBA), Credit Builder, and IDA (Individual Development Account) and
6. Matched Savings programs. For more information on eligibility and how to enroll, please
see our flyers below.
Vocational ESL:
Program
AMCS will be offering Vocational English as A Second Language (VESL) classes at
AMCS’ Hillcroft location and the Los Arcos Apartment Complex. Classes will be offered
Monday – Saturday in the mornings, afternoons and evenings to accommodate all
schedules.
Class will consist of instruction in English as A Second Language, including listening,
speaking, reading, writing, and life skills such as job readiness, job search, financial
literacy and interview preparation skills for students who are unable to communicate in
English.
Tuition & Fees
$640
Classes are 8 weeks (96 hours)
Financial aid available for some students
Services
General Orientation
Job placement assistance
Resume development
Interview preparation
Referral to Dress for Success
Financial Opportunity Program:
The Asset Building Program is an integral part of our organization. The program focuses
on developing sustainable resources to provide Individual Development Account Program
(IDA) for the creation of wealth-building assets (i.e. home, post-secondary education and
micro enterprise) among the low-income population.
We also focus a great deal on developing and sustaining resources to provide small
business training, financing and technical assistance to low-income people and minorities
that wants to start their own business.
The strategy for economic development is to recruit existing and potential entrepreneurs
from the low-income community and equip them with training, and provide them micro-
loans and technical assistance in order to assist them to develop their potential and
enhance their economic wellbeing thereby creating additional jobs and economically
revitalizing the area and their community..
7. Youth Program:
The mission of the Kijana Youth Program is to serve school-aged children in the Houston
area through after-school youth empowerment classes which cover computer technology,
life skills, and recreational and cultural activities, including music, field trips, and
volunteer projects. Staff counselors encourage youth leadership and service and also tutor
students to improve performance at school.
Driver’s Education:
All TEA certified and bilingual (some even trilingual), our instructors effectively teach
participants how to drive through classroom lessons and on-the-wheel training. Their
multiculturalism lends a hand to their patience and ability to understand a variety of
participants and communicate at an optimal level.
The benefits of refugees, or any eligible driver, participating in our program are
indispensable. Because Houston is a very wide spread city, relying on public
transportation can disadvantage individuals. By completing our program and obtaining a
driver’s license, persons have the potential to buy their own car, which increases their
employment opportunities, flexibility in scheduling appointments or attending classes.
ACA Health Insurance Navigators
The Alliance is offering assistance with enrollment in Affordable Care Act (ACA)
Marketplace Health Plans. The ACA Marketplace is a new way to find coverage for
health insurance. Navigators can be reached Monday – Friday, 8:30am – 5:30pm at (713)
595-8647. Bilingual Navigators are available.
Naya Alliance Designs Program:
Naya Alliance Designs provides an intensive, tutition-free course aimed at helping clients
who have a sewing background to become more self-sufficient and increase their English
language skills. The classes cover a broad range of sewing skills, financial literacy,
customer service skills, and marketing strategies. Naya Alliance Designs teachers
introduce students to fair-trade stores and help them navigate buying supplies. The
students learn to sew on a serge machine, new stitches, to follow patterns and to choose
fabrics. Several of our refugee tailors’ designs and custom clothes have been featured at
the Langford Market Boutique, World Refugee Day, cultural festivals and in the Houston
Chronicle. The Alliance is working with Houston-based designers to help secure more
contract work for Naya Alliance Designs students and help fund additional classes. The
extra income that the women earn for themselves and their families can be critical to
gaining financial independence. For questions, more information, or requests, please
contact Nnenna Amugo at namugo@allianceontheweb.org
8. Information about Merchanical Drafter
Education: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related
on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Median Wages: $25.10 hourly, $52,200 annual
Tasks:
Develop detailed design drawings and specifications for mechanical equipment,
dies, tools, and controls, using computer-assisted drafting (CAD) equipment.
Lay out and draw schematic, orthographic, or angle views to depict functional
relationships of components, assemblies, systems, and machines.
Coordinate with and consult other workers to design, lay out, or detail
components and systems and to resolve design or other problems.
Check dimensions of materials to be used and assign numbers to the materials.
Review and analyze specifications, sketches, drawings, ideas, and related data to
assess factors affecting component designs and the procedures and instructions
to be followed.
Modify and revise designs to correct operating deficiencies or to reduce
production problems.
Compute mathematical formulas to develop and design detailed specifications
for components or machinery, using computer-assisted equipment.
Position instructions and comments onto drawings.
Lay out, draw, and reproduce illustrations for reference manuals and technical
publications to describe operation and maintenance of mechanical systems.
Design scale or full-size blueprints of specialty items such as furniture and
automobile body or chassis components.
Confer with customer representatives to review schematics and answer questions
pertaining to installation of systems.
Supervise and train other drafters, technologists, and technicians.
Draw freehand sketches of designs, trace finished drawings onto designated
paper for the reproduction of blueprints, and reproduce working drawings on
copy machines.
Shade or color drawings to clarify and emphasize details and dimensions or
eliminate background using ink, crayon, airbrush, and overlays.
Detailed Work Activities:
Verify mathematical calculations.
Discuss designs or plans with clients.
Supervise engineering or other technical personnel
Create graphical representations of mechanical equipment.
9. Confer with technical personnel to prepare designs or operational plans.
Design electromechanical equipment or systems.
Analyze design or requirements information for mechanical equipment or
systems.
10. Information about Electronic Drafter
Education: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related
on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Median Wages: $28.26 hourly, $58,790 annual
Tasks:
Consult with engineers to discuss and interpret design concepts, and determine
requirements of detailed working drawings.
Examine electronic schematics and supporting documents to develop, compute,
and verify specifications for drafting data, such as configuration of parts,
dimensions, and tolerances.
Draft detail and assembly drawings of design components, circuitry and printed
circuit boards, using computer-assisted equipment or standard drafting
techniques and devices.
Locate files relating to specified design project in database library, load program
into computer, and record completed job data.
Review work orders and procedural manuals and confer with vendors and design
staff to resolve problems and modify design.
Generate computer tapes of final layout design to produce layered photo masks
and photo plotting design onto film.
Key and program specified commands and engineering specifications into
computer system to change functions and test final layout.
Supervise and coordinate work activities of workers engaged in drafting,
designing layouts, assembling, and testing printed circuit boards.
Compare logic element configuration on display screen with engineering
schematics and calculate figures to convert, redesign, and modify element.
Review blueprints to determine customer requirements and consult with
assembler regarding schematics, wiring procedures, and conductor paths.
Select drill size to drill test head, according to test design and specifications, and
submit guide layout to designated department.
Plot electrical test points on layout sheets and draw schematics for wiring test
fixture heads to frames.
Detailed Work Activities
Consult with engineers to discuss and interpret design concepts, and determine
requirements of detailed working drawings.
Examine electronic schematics and supporting documents to develop, compute,
and verify specifications for drafting data, such as configuration of parts,
dimensions, and tolerances.
Draft detail and assembly drawings of design components, circuitry and printed
circuit boards, using computer-assisted equipment or standard drafting
11. techniques and devices.
Locate files relating to specified design project in database library, load program
into computer, and record completed job data.
Review work orders and procedural manuals and confer with vendors and design
staff to resolve problems and modify design.
Generate computer tapes of final layout design to produce layered photo masks
and photo plotting design onto film.
Key and program specified commands and engineering specifications into
computer system to change functions and test final layout.
Supervise and coordinate work activities of workers engaged in drafting,
designing layouts, assembling, and testing printed circuit boards.
Compare logic element configuration on display screen with engineering
schematics and calculate figures to convert, redesign, and modify element.
Review blueprints to determine customer requirements and consult with
assembler regarding schematics, wiring procedures, and conductor paths.
Select drill size to drill test head, according to test design and specifications, and
submit guide layout to designated department.
Plot electrical test points on layout sheets and draw schematics for wiring test
fixture heads to frames.
12. Information about Electrical Drafter
Median Salary: $28.26 hourly, $58,790 annual
Education: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related
on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Tasks:
Use computer-aided drafting equipment or conventional drafting stations, technical
handbooks, tables, calculators, and traditional drafting tools, such as boards, pencils,
protractors, and T-squares.
Draft working drawings, wiring diagrams, wiring connection specifications or cross-
sections of underground cables, as required for instructions to installation crew.
Assemble documentation packages and produce drawing sets which are checked by
an engineer or an architect.
Review completed construction drawings and cost estimates for accuracy and
conformity to standards and regulations.
Confer with engineering staff and other personnel to resolve problems.
Measure factors that affect installation and arrangement of equipment, such as
distances to be spanned by wire and cable.
Design electrical systems, such as lighting systems.
Draw master sketches to scale showing relation of proposed installations to existing
facilities and exact specifications and dimensions.
Study work order requests to determine type of service, such as lighting or power,
demanded by installation.
Explain drawings to production or construction teams and provide adjustments as
necessary.
Reproduce working drawings on copy machines or trace drawings in ink.
Determine the order of work and the method of presentation, such as orthographic or
isometric drawing.
Visit proposed installation sites and draw rough sketches of location.
Prepare and interpret specifications, calculating weights, volumes, and stress factors.
Supervise and train other technologists, technicians and drafters.
Detailed Work Activities
Create electrical schematics.
Document technical design details.
Review technical documents to plan work.
13. Supervise engineering or other technical personnel.
Evaluate designs or specifications to ensure quality.
Confer with other personnel to resolve design or operational problems.
Estimate technical or resource requirements for development or production projects.
Explain engineering drawings, specifications, or other technical information.
Prepare detailed work plans.
Collect data about project sites.
Design electrical equipment or systems.
Prepare technical reports for internal use.
14. Information about Architectural Drafter
Education: Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do
not.
Median Wages: $24.03 hourly, $49,970 annual
Tasks:
Operate computer-aided drafting (CAD) equipment or conventional drafting station
to produce designs, working drawings, charts, forms and records.
Analyze building codes, by-laws, space and site requirements, and other technical
documents and reports to determine their effect on architectural designs.
Coordinate structural, electrical and mechanical designs and determine a method of
presentation to graphically represent building plans.
Draw rough and detailed scale plans for foundations, buildings and structures, based
on preliminary concepts, sketches, engineering calculations, specification sheets and
other data.
Lay out and plan interior room arrangements for commercial buildings using
computer-assisted drafting (CAD) equipment and software.
Obtain and assemble data to complete architectural designs, visiting job sites to
compile measurements as necessary.
Supervise, coordinate, and inspect the work of draftspersons, technicians, and
technologists on construction projects.
Determine procedures and instructions to be followed, according to design
specifications and quantity of required materials.
Represent architect on construction site, ensuring builder compliance with design
specifications and advising on design corrections, under architect's supervision.
Check dimensions of materials to be used and assign numbers to lists of materials.
Analyze technical implications of architect's design concept, calculating weights,
volumes, and stress factors.
Prepare cost estimates, contracts, bidding documents and technical reports for
specific projects under an architect's supervision.
Work Activities
Verify mathematical calculations.
Create graphical representations of structures or landscapes.
Operate computer systems.
Direct design or development activities.
15. Prepare contracts, disclosures, or applications.
Recommend technical design or process changes to improve efficiency, quality, or
performance.
Supervise engineering or other technical personnel.
Provide technical guidance to other personnel.
Monitor processes for compliance with standards.
Estimate technical or resource requirements for development or production projects.
Determine operational methods.
Collect data about project sites.
Evaluate technical data to determine effect on designs or plans.
Estimate operational costs.
Create physical models or prototypes.
Prepare technical reports for internal use.
16. About the Program
Cost: $130 fee ($80 refundable upon successful completion of both classes. Newly
arrived refugees, asylees, SIV’s may receive a waiver for $50.00 of the fee)
Requirements:
• Legally able to work in the United States
• Attend a contextualized support class in addition to skills training
• English proficient
• Pass a screening test (test and interview)
• Must be at-least 18 years old.
• High School Diploma
