CSET Brochure (English)

WHAT IS CSET? Community Services Employment Training (CSET) is a non-profit agency established in 1976 to fight the War on Poverty. We are the Community Action Agency for Tulare County, joining a national partnership of agencies that assist individuals and communities to achieve self-reliance.CSET shares a vision for residents to gain the knowledge, skills and resources needed to achieve the American Dream.

Our decades-long commitment to serve the people of our county remains strong.

We continue to create and implement innovative and cost-effective programs that improve the living conditions and opportunities of low-income residents.

Local government, nonprofit organizations and other collaborators are vital partners in this work.

Below is a snapshot of CSET’s community impact. Inside you will find descriptions of various programs and services available to residents. We invite you to learn more about what we do and hope that our work inspires you to join us on our mission to foster thriving youth, families, and communities.

— Mary Alice Escarsega-Fechner Executive Director

CSET’S 2021-22 IMPACT....

L O C A T I O N S Visalia Main Office | 312 NW 3rd Ave. | Tel. (559) 732-4194

COMMUNITY OFFICES:

VISALIA NAVIGATION CENTER:

Visalia Employment Connection 4025 W. Noble Ave., Suite B Tel. (559) 713-5000

3525 N. Court St.

Porterville Employment Connection 1063 W. Henderson Ave. Tel. (559) 788-1400 Tulare Family Resource Center & Employment Connection Affiliate 304 E. Tulare Ave. Tel. (559) 684-1987 Earlimart Family Resource Center 176 N. Front St. Tel. (661) 849-2960 Orosi CSET Office 12737 Ave. 417 Tel. (559) 216-0438

Served 36,513 individuals through Workforce Development programs.

Pixley CSET Office 927 S. Center St. Tel. (559) 575-0098

Brought $6.4 million in tax returns back to Tulare and Kings County residents through VITA.

Porterville CSET Office 108 E. Morton Ave. Tel. (559) 216-0525

4,520 households received energy assistance.

Recycled more than 331,907 pounds of CRV material.

294 youth engaged in leadership and job readiness training.

SENIOR CENTERS: Cutler/Orosi Senior Center Tel. (559) 528-6108 Earlimart Senior Center Tel. (661) 849-2232 Exeter Senior Center Tel. (559) 592-5960 Farmersville Senior Center Tel. (559) 667-2702 Goshen Senior Center Tel. 1 (800) 321-2462 Lindsay Senior Center Tel. (559) 562-5859 Porterville Senior Center Tel. (559) 782-4725 Woodlake Senior Center Tel. (559) 564-3251

GET INVOLVED! If you would like to learn more about our programs, or are interested in volunteering for a communit y project, please contact us at (559) 732-4194 or info@cset.org. Find us online at www.CSET.org.

CONNECT WITH US! Stay informed with communit y updates, job oppor tunities, and events. Find us on Facebook, Instagram, Twit ter,YouTube and Snapchat.

Where COMMUNITY Happens

Community Services Employment Training

OUR MISSION

VITA

Business Services & Workforce Development

CSET inspires youth, families, and communities to achieve self-reliance through innovative pathways and collaboration.

The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program helps low-income families file their tax returns for free. The VITA service typically runs from February to April.

GET TO KNOW US

CSET’s Energy Services Department improves the health and safety of Tulare County residents by assisting with utility bills and providing home weatherization services.

The department focuses on providing aid to low-income community members to manage their immediate heating and/or cooling needs.

The Employment Connection offers businesses and job seekers innovative employment and training services. Individuals can job search, participate in job readiness workshops, receive career counseling, and more. Businesses use the Employment Connection to screen, hire and train prospective employees. Employers are also eligible for tax credits and wage reimbursements.

Learn more about CSET programs and services by visiting us online at www.CSET.org or by following us on social media. We share all the latest community updates, job opportunities, events and more. Find us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Youtube and Snapchat!

OUR PARTNERS Our partnerships are important to us. They allow us to meet needs in our communities on a much grander scale. The impact collaboration has on our communities is invaluable. We are thankful for each and every one of our nearly 200 partnerships. Featured below are just a few of our partners: • Tulare County Health and Human Services Agency • Tulare County Office of Emergency Services • Workforce Investment Board of Tulare County • Central Valley Community Foundation • Family HealthCare Network • Self-Help Enterprises

Energy Assistance

Housing Services The Housing Services Department administers short and long-term assistance programs that build strong Tulare County communities. Supportive services help individuals and families achieve first-time homeownership, avoid foreclosure, improve living conditions and reach economic success.

Youth Development CSET encourages and supports the growth of Tulare County youth through a variety of services. Youth Development provides leadership programs, educational resources, work-readiness workshops, career and college exploration experiences, youth employment opportunities, and more.

Visalia Navigation Center

Sequoia Community Corps

This Low-Barrier Navigation Center (LBNC) will provide wrap-around service-enriched living quarters focused on guiding residents into permanent housing. It will support individuals experiencing homelessness, offering a pathway to regain stability, access services, and find housing.

The Sequoia Community Corps (SCC) connects young adults ages 18-26 to educational and professional opportunities. Corpsmembers can earn their high school diploma while gaining vocational training in the trades of construction, weatherization, urban forestry, recycling, electronic waste collection, and recycling education. The Sequoia Community Corps also assists local governments, agencies and businesses meet critical community construction needs on a fee for service basis.

Senior Centers CSET operates Senior Centers in eight locations across Tulare County: Cutler, Earlimart, Exeter, Farmersville, Goshen, Lindsay, Porterville, and Woodlake. Visit one of the centers to enjoy a nutritious meal, special programs, classes, games, and more.

Family Resource Centers The Earlimart and Tulare Family Resource Centers are one-stop shops providing families with support services ranging from health education and employment training to housing assistance and child development programs.

Recycling The Department of Recycling (DOR), a branch of the SCC, provides environmentally safe and convenient Beverage Container (CRV) and Electronic Waste recycling services to Tulare and Kings Counties. Corpsmembers service all containers and operate multiple recycling centers that buy back empty CRV containers. The DOR also partners with local businesses and schools to engage and educate the community on recycling habits and benefits.