VOCATIONAL TRAINING ASSISTANCE

FORMS & APPLICATIONS

CONTACT INFORMATION

  • Kawerak, Inc.
    P.O. Box 948
    Nome, AK 99762

  • 800.450.4341
    907.443.4358
  • 907.443.4485
  • intake@kawerak.org

Vocational Training Assistance

The Vocational Training Program provides financial assistance to eligible applicants interested in attaining a certificate or degree from a vocational training or trade school program. Financial assistance is intended to enhance the applicant’s job skills and gain full-time employment. Financial assistance may include travel to and from the training site, room and board, and a monthly stipend for food and essential items. Support Services may also be provided for other costs associated with the training depending on financial need and will be determined on a case by case basis.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must meet the following criteria:

  1. Must be Alaska Native or American Indian, and a tribal member of a federally recognized tribe*
  2. Must be a resident of the Bering Strait/Norton Sound region
  3. Applicants must be accepted for enrollment into a full-time accredited training program in a certified, vocational or trade school. Applicants must be working toward a certificate or degree documenting 30 education hours or more a week Monday through Friday. If the program hours are outside of normal business hours or less than 30 hours a week, assistance will be subject to approval on a case by case basis.
  4. Must be unemployed, under-employed, and possess limited or no job skills
  5. Must apply for the Federal Pell Grant, State of Alaska Department of Labor Funding if attending a training program within Alaska (not be applicable for students who apply to attend training out of state) and all other local scholarships and grants
  6. Must be 18 year of age or older, or a younger applicant who has graduated high school or attained a GED diploma (need help getting your GED? Visit our Community Education page!)
  7. Applicants must show financial need after having applied for additional funding resources – Kawerak funds are SUPPLEMENTAL
  8. Must be willing to take a drug test
  9. Must be physically capable

*Tribal members of Nome Eskimo Community must apply at your local office. Tribal Members of Kawerak’s consortium who have moved and no longer reside in the region or State of Alaska are eligible to apply for a one-time $750.00 training grant to be applied toward tuition, fees, and books, or costs associated with the training program, however some restrictions apply. Please call the Education, Employment and Supportive Services Department at 1-800-450-4341 for more information.

Application Procedures

*Applications are not considered complete until all required documentation is received. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure the application and documents are received.

Apply Online

The MyCACHE Scholarship application just became simpler!

My-Cache.org is a website where students can log on and complete their application for scholarships online. The website is the home of the Combined Application for College and Higher Education (CACHE) group, consisting of the Bering Straits Foundation, Kawerak, Inc., Norton Sound Economic Development Corporation, Sitnasuak Foundation and the Norton Sound Health Corporation.

The first step is to sign up and create a user profile. Once you sign up for the site, you will have access to all scholarship opportunities provided by the MyCACHE group.

Use this online resource to get your questions answered: find out who to contact at each regional organization, what requirements you need for the CACHE application, and how much money you’re eligible to receive. Start your application today at www.My-Cache.org.

Vocational Training Application Deadline:

Six (6) weeks prior to training start date.

Selection Process, Intake, and Case Management

Kawerak can assist eligible applicants with application completion if the initial application was received prior to the deadline. Each application is reviewed and prioritized based on eligibility, priority of service, and need. If selected for the program, applicants will meet with the case manager to complete the Individual Education and Employment Plan, review employment barriers, document prior work experience, identify workforce needs, discuss program expectations and complete evaluations.  Kawerak is committed to support education and training and provide the highest level of services to students through active communication, coordination, planning and guidance, and partnerships with other MyCACHE organizations.

Repeat applicants (those who received previous vocational training services) will be low priority for consideration of funding. Repeat requests will be determined on a case by case basis.

Flight Instruction – Special Note

Funding will not be provided for private pilot or flight instructor licenses. Funding for commercial licenses, multi-engine and instrument ratings will be limited to a total of ten (10) months of training.

Employment Preparation and Post Training Follow-Up

Prior to the conclusion of the training program, you must meet with your case manager. The case manager will work with you to develop a job search plan and complete employment preparation tasks such as: conducting a job search, updating your resume, and applying for entry-level positions. After training, complete a 90-day post-training follow-up with your case manager.

Vocational Training Assistance

The Vocational Training Program provides financial assistance to eligible applicants interested in attaining a certificate or degree from a vocational training or trade school program. Financial assistance is intended to enhance the applicant’s job skills and gain full-time employment. Financial assistance may include travel to and from the training site, room and board, and a monthly stipend for food and essential items. Support Services may also be provided for other costs associated with the training depending on financial need and will be determined on a case by case basis.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must meet the following criteria:

  1. Must be Alaska Native or American Indian, and a tribal member of a federally recognized tribe*
  2. Must be a resident of the Bering Strait/Norton Sound region
  3. Applicants must be accepted for enrollment into a full-time accredited training program in a certified, vocational or trade school. Applicants must be working toward a certificate or degree documenting 30 education hours or more a week Monday through Friday. If the program hours are outside of normal business hours or less than 30 hours a week, assistance will be subject to approval on a case by case basis.
  4. Must be unemployed, under-employed, and possess limited or no job skills
  5. Must apply for the Federal Pell Grant, State of Alaska Department of Labor Funding if attending a training program within Alaska (not be applicable for students who apply to attend training out of state) and all other local scholarships and grants
  6. Must be 18 year of age or older, or a younger applicant who has graduated high school or attained a GED diploma (need help getting your GED? Visit our Community Education page!)
  7. Applicants must show financial need after having applied for additional funding resources – Kawerak funds are SUPPLEMENTAL
  8. Must be willing to take a drug test
  9. Must be physically capable

*Tribal members of Nome Eskimo Community must apply at your local office. Tribal Members of Kawerak’s consortium who have moved and no longer reside in the region or State of Alaska are eligible to apply for a one-time $750.00 training grant to be applied toward tuition, fees, and books, or costs associated with the training program, however some restrictions apply. Please call the Education, Employment and Supportive Services Department at 1-800-450-4341 for more information.

Application Procedures

*Applications are not considered complete until all required documentation is received. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure the application and documents are received.

Apply Online

The MyCACHE Scholarship application just became simpler!

My-Cache.org is a website where students can log on and complete their application for scholarships online. The website is the home of the Combined Application for College and Higher Education (CACHE) group, consisting of the Bering Straits Foundation, Kawerak, Inc., Norton Sound Economic Development Corporation, Sitnasuak Foundation and the Norton Sound Health Corporation.

The first step is to sign up and create a user profile. Once you sign up for the site, you will have access to all scholarship opportunities provided by the MyCACHE group.

Use this online resource to get your questions answered: find out who to contact at each regional organization, what requirements you need for the CACHE application, and how much money you’re eligible to receive. Start your application today at www.My-Cache.org.

Vocational Training Application Deadline:

Six (6) weeks prior to training start date.

Selection Process, Intake, and Case Management

Kawerak can assist eligible applicants with application completion if the initial application was received prior to the deadline. Each application is reviewed and prioritized based on eligibility, priority of service, and need. If selected for the program, applicants will meet with the case manager to complete the Individual Education and Employment Plan, review employment barriers, document prior work experience, identify workforce needs, discuss program expectations and complete evaluations.  Kawerak is committed to support education and training and provide the highest level of services to students through active communication, coordination, planning and guidance, and partnerships with other MyCACHE organizations.

Repeat applicants (those who received previous vocational training services) will be low priority for consideration of funding. Repeat requests will be determined on a case by case basis.

Flight Instruction – Special Note

Funding will not be provided for private pilot or flight instructor licenses. Funding for commercial licenses, multi-engine and instrument ratings will be limited to a total of ten (10) months of training.

Employment Preparation and Post Training Follow-Up

Prior to the conclusion of the training program, you must meet with your case manager. The case manager will work with you to develop a job search plan and complete employment preparation tasks such as: conducting a job search, updating your resume, and applying for entry-level positions. After training, complete a 90-day post-training follow-up with your case manager.

FORMS & APPLICATIONS

CONTACT INFORMATION

  • Kawerak, Inc.
    P.O. Box 948
    Nome, AK 99762

  • 800.450.4341
    907.443.4358
  • 907.443.4485
  • intake@kawerak.org