Student Services

Counseling and Referrals
CIET is dedicated to providing services and referrals to our students and their family members so that they may take full advantage of our English courses. To that end, we offer individual counseling services to our students in the areas of job placement, career, higher education, and personal issues through an on-site educational case manager. Case management involves the referral of students to appropriate health, family, citizenship, legal, and other community services in Queens.

Resource and Referral Guide
The Center has also created a Resource and Referral Guide for students covering topics such as attaining U.S. citizenship and applying to college, as well as listing agencies that provide services such as youth recreation, legal resources and housing.

Workshops
In order to connect our students with a full-range of community resources, CIET organizes regular visits to classes by internal and external organizations, such as:

• NYC Human Rights Commission
• NYS Attorney General's Office
• LaGuardia's College Prep Office
• Center for Community Problem Solving (NYU)
• Small Business Development Center
• NYC Fire Department
• Kress Vision Program New York Downtown Hospital
• The Metropolitan Museum of Art
• Learning Leaders
• Advocates for Children
• NYS Department of Labor's Bureau of Immigrant Workers Rights
• NYPD's New Immigrant Outreach Unit

Women's Support Group
In Fall 2007, CIET initiated a women's support group to give participants the opportunity to express their concerns and challenges as immigrant women and provide a forum for mutual aid. Facilitated by Educational Case Manager Tania Ramirez, the group has focused on topics such as self-esteem, interpersonal relationships, stress management, and goal setting. It is a safe space for students to support one another and build community.

Small Business Workshop
In Winter 2008, over 50 CIET students participated in a workshop given by the federal Small Business Development Center to learn the basics of how to open their own business. Students learned about business plans and what to consider before investing. Student goals ranged from opening restaurants, beauty salons, mechanic garages and import/ export businesses. Several students then had individual sessions with a financial consultant at the SBDC to follow-up their ambition.

Earned Income Tax Credit Workshops
During tax season, CIET hosted two income tax workshops from the Citizens Committee for New York City to explain the process of submitting tax returns and completing the often underutilized Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credits. Students had their questions and concerns answered by income tax professionals and were given referrals to community based organizations that would fill out their Income Tax forms for free.

Tutoring
CIET offers support to low-level learners through a volunteer tutoring and ESOL teacher mentor program. Students work one-on-one with a professional in training to supplement their in-class coursework.