According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (cf. Crispell, 1990), the medical clerical field is one of the faster growing areas of employment. This paper reports on long‐term employment of trainees involved in nontraditional medical clerical programs. These programs were funded by the Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) and filled both the needs of the local rural health care facilities and the employment needs of unskilled youths and adults. These nontraditional students of low socioeconomic background and poor work history were successfully mainstreamed into university courses and consequently obtained productive employment. A follow‐up study was conducted of 64 individuals who completed three different, one‐year JTPA programs. The study investigated the following questions: Was the trainee currently employed? If so, was employment related to the training program, and were the quarterly salaries higher than minimum wage and previous salaries? How many different jobs were reported since training? Did the individual retain employment in a rural setting? The JTPA programs at Southern Illinois University included some innovative yet practical components that resulted in very high program completion rates, high initial placement, and a continuing pattern of long‐term employment. These components included: emphasis on training for the most needed positions/jobs that matched university capabilities; the pursuit of higher starting salaries; informing participants of support services; training in job hunting and work readiness; using some individualized, competency‐based instruction; establishing internship arrangements with prospective employers; and careful matching of the trainee to initial placement site with consideration of personality as well as skills. Copyright © 1992, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved
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