Program areas at MET
MET HHS Programs which include Head Start, Early Head Start and Child Care Partnership programs promote school readiness for children ages birth to five from low-income families by supporting the whole child's development by providing learning experiences to help children grow intellectually, socially, and emotionally. Readiness for school is fostered through individualized learning experiences. Relationships with adults, play, and planned and spontaneous instruction help children grow in many aspects of development. By utilizing the Head Start model, these students progress in social skill development, emotional well- being, language, literacy, and concept development. Depending on community need, MET, Inc. offers a variety of service models. Many of our programs are based in standalone centers. MET's Head Start service area is comprised of nine counties in southeastern Texas which include: Montgomery, Hardin, Chambers, Liberty, Harris, Waller, Austin, Polk, and San Jacinto. Services are funded for -10 HS sites, 11 EHS sites, and 2 EHS-CCP Partnership sites. MET provides full-day child development services for 546 infants, toddlers, pregnant women, and 771 Head Start children. MET utilizes an integrated approach of developmentally appropriate, family-centered, and culturally appropriate services to promote school readiness and strong, healthy families. In addition, through the HHS Programs. During the last program year, 50 parents attended job training or adult education classes, 18 parents attended English as a Second Language ESL training, 275 parents were involved in health education, and 118 were involved in asset building services.
The Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) provides training and employment services to help low-income participants 55 or older gain the skills needed to get jobs and become financially self-sufficient. SCSEP job-seekers work roughly 30 hours a week for nonprofit organizations, school districts or government offices to receive work-based training and provide valuable services to their communities. Eligible job seekers earn minimum wage at their work-based training assignments, so they earn income while training. The job-seeker that participates in the program learn new skills and talents or enhance existing ones to become competitive in today's workforce. Services offered included: Assessment of skills, experience, education, and review of interests for placement. In addition, free annual health check-ups and assistance with job searches are available. MET operates the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) in the states of Texas and Minnesota. Through the services offered; the job job-seeker earns income while in a job-training and provides the added benefit at community level. Priority enrollments are given to veterans and their spouses and to individuals that are 55 years of age or older, have a disability, have limited English skills, have low reading, writing and math skills, live in a rural area, and are homeless or at risk. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, program enrollment for the Senior Community Service 10 2021 was lower in the prior year over fears of infection, as well as due to the initially low rates of vaccination. During this program year, 523 SCSEP participants returned to their training site. The benefits to our seniors include not only developing new job skills but receiving an income while pursuing individual economic self-sufficiency. Extra added benefits include the senior feeling useful and needed in their community, making new friends which in turn assists in staying in touch with the world, have a new sense of purpose, achievement and accomplishment, and knowing that they are a valuable asset to the community.
MET administers the National Farmworkers Jobs Programs, NFJP, for the states of TX, LA, MN, ND, NM and WY which is used for Migrant & Seasonal Farmworker Training. The purpose of this program is to counter chronic unemployment and underemployment experienced by migrant and seasonal farmworkers and their dependents who depend primarily on jobs in agricultural labor performed across the country. NFJP assists eligible Migrant and Seasonal Farmworkers, including youth and adults, and their dependents, to receive career services, training services, housing assistance services, youth services, and other related assistance services, including emergency services, that help stabilize their current agriculture jobs as well as acquire new skills they need to start careers that provide higher wages and year-round employment. To support better economic outcomes for farmworkers, NFJP also works to meet a critical need for safe and sanitary permanent and temporary housing. Our agencies partnered with 55 key training providers across each of these states in order to reach the goal of aiding in countering the chronic unemployment and underemployment experienced by farmworkers. These farmworkers depend primarily on jobs in agricultural labor. Services we offered include educational instruction (CRT), and skills training (WEX & OJT) in an educational setting. The primary goal of this agency and the Programs is to aid the farm workers with entry-level skills needed for job placements. The outcomes in the 2021/2022 Program year exceeded all projected program objectives: these included enrollment of students in career training services and issuing individuals with emergency related assistance. The breakdown was training 1,135 Classroom Training Participants in certifications which led to 75% of Placement based on the certifications. Trainings offered ranged from Diesel Mechanic, Structural Maintenance Welders, Stick Pipe Welders, Green Construction, Emergency Medical Technicians, Professional Truck Drivers, Medical Billing, and many other customized training tracks. In addition, MET successfully placed On-the-Job Training Participants, Work Experience Participants, and coordinated unsubsidized job placements. Our agency partners with community organizations, state agencies, public workforce systems, and a nationwide network of American Job Centers to directly offer these administered program services for migrant and seasonal farmworkers.
MET's additional Federal / State Program expenses include Fatherhood Fire, Fatherhood Effect, CACFP, Texas Home Visiting, PROJECT HOPES, and SMVF - Service Members Veterans and Families. These programs are an integral part of MET's layered vision. The primary purpose of these programs is an emphasis on families. We help parents by matching them with someone who can answer questions, give advice, and recommend services. MET's commitment is to improve the well-being of families through education, health, and self-sufficiency. Focus areas include Child Health & Development Education Financial Literacy and Family Self-Sufficiency Child and Family Safety. Services include Home Base programs which provide child abuse and neglect prevention services that target families with children between zero and five years of age, Parenting sessions, Youth sessions 11-17 yrs. of age and fatherhood sessions . Collaboration with community organizations in targeted counties is a pillar of MET's outcome and mission. Community coalition development, as well as services that promote child welfare, childhood education, and other family services are part of the program model. These services are available to all eligible persons, regardless of race, age, gender, disability, or religion. The investment in the families that have utilized theses services result in high-risk children being put on a path to become educated, psychologically healthy, and productive adults.