IBSA staff, volunteers, and interns engage in a variety of efforts to promote and support job training, employment counseling and entrepreneurial activities, particularly, activities for youth and low-income adults. We provide services that assist people in their transition off welfare. Clients are referred by government agencies through agreements for employment & entrepreneurial counseling, retention and support services. IBSA additionally provide related services to first-time juvenile offenders referred by the County Court Services to complete community service as required by a judicial officer of the courts.

Primary programs consist of mentoring/guidance of first-time juvenile offenders. We provide one-on-one counseling to help them understand their actions and consequences, help identify available careers, and help them try and establish goals and objectives. We work with approximately 60 youth per year that are referred by court services

We also provide business counseling, training and support services to entrepreneurs of low to moderate income (including youth). Counseling assists in business/feasibility/marketing plan development, finding micro finance, contract negotiation, networking and relationship building. Support services include document preparation, website creation and promotion, and informal networking sessions with major corporate purchasing agents.

IBSA, Inc. was founded in 1993 in Kansas and received its IRS Tax-Exempt status in 1995. Because of the problems associated with securing gainful employment after college, its founder established the organization to provide job search assistance, work experience and youth guidance and mentoring where the needs exist.

Since its founding, the agency has received recognition for service by every Governor of Kansas and every Mayor in Topeka, KS. It has received numerous awards; including the Innovation to Workforce Development by former Gov. Mel Carnahan, Ideas that Work by the U.S. Dept. of Labor, a Citation for Community Service from former President Bill Clinton and state recognition by the State of Kansas for its nationally acclaimed voicemail messaging service for the homeless and those on welfare and seeking employment without traditional phone service.

The agency continues to be a leader and innovator on issues that impact the socioeconomic problems systemic to urban neighborhoods. Currently, IBSA is establishing workforce training programs for single parents behind in their child support, person with prior felony convictions and other low to-moderate income individuals. The agency is also a veteran advocate for equity in public funded contracting and procurement, and corporations with robust supplier diversity programs. We believe that if we can help a person acquire a skill, obtain gainful employment or reach self-sufficiency through self-employment we are making America strong.