LATHRUP VILLAGE — With Michigan’s economy continuing to lag behind the vast majority of other U.S. states, the need for assistance in helping locals find work remains paramount.

Thankfully for unemployed citizens in Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties, the Arab American and Chaldean Council (ACC) is prepared to help after receiving a federal grant in May from the U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration to provide employment training, job placement services and more.

The program’s aim is to help Iraqi refugees and other dislocated workers in the area but anyone is eligible to apply for the services.

“Demand is very high,” said Jawad Marzook, director of the program at ACC. “It’s for all of those people who are out of work right now and in many cases the reason for them being out of work is the language barrier.”

The program, Classroom Training-Literacy and Remediation Skills Towards Self-Sufficiency, addresses the needs of refugees in detail to ensure their integration into American society.

It consists of two key components: English as a Second Language (ESL)/Vocational ESL training and Employability Training. The program will also teach health prevention education and counseling services to meet the needs of participants in dealing with war trauma, injury and illness.

ACC has connections with numerous local employers and a dedicated staff of employees that specialize in helping locals find work in these difficult times.

“Many refugees in this country are living in despair and frustration, as it is very difficult to find a job due to the combination of limited English language proficiency and lack of employability skills. The trauma of being uprooted and adjusting to a vastly different culture impedes these refugees in accessing and deriving benefits from basic health, counseling, and employment training services,” said Haifa Fakhouri, ACC president and CEO, in a press release.

Marzook said that the grant money for the program is expected to run out in April 2011 and hopes that the government will continue to provide the money afterward because of the constant need in the area.

“We hope that the federal and local governments will pay attention to our efforts and keep the program alive for more than just one year,” he said.

Nevertheless, the ACC has and will continue to help the local community overcome the challenges of  finding a way to make a living.

Help is available  for job seekers through the ACC by calling 248.559.1990 or visiting myacc.org for more information.