Goodwill Industries Doubles Its Funding to Serve Lake County Youth: By Sandi Allison

          Effective July 1, 2016, Goodwill Industries was awarded a substantial increase in funding for the Lake County Comprehensive Case Management and Employment Program (CCMEP), named the "Goodwill Ready to Work Program.” The program is a coordinated approach that addresses factors contributing to poverty and unemployment for youth ages 16 to 24 years old. The Goodwill Ready To Work program offers a menu of work related activities and classes that will sharpen employment skills, link youth to employers, and increase opportunities to practice and apply positive work activities and behaviors. A key factor in this programming is utilizing holistic case management services to address barriers to employment and self-sufficiency.

          The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports an average of 13.3% Ohio youth unemployment in 2012 and statistics further indicate that employment levels for youth have been declining much faster than adults age 25 and up. Developing positive work behaviors through career counseling, job placement, and skills to facilitate job retention is not something naturally developed for youth. Some of them do not have work experience or struggle with barriers that stand in the way of gaining and maintaining unsubsidized employment. This program helps to intensively support the participant in developing these skills by mapping out a career ladder and ultimately aiding them in retaining employment that will lead to adult self-sufficiency.

          Goodwill’s tradition of giving a “hand-up” has been practiced for years in our youth Workforce Development programs. The old proverb, “give a (young) man/woman a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a (young) man/woman to fish and you feed him for a lifetime” is something the Goodwill Team practices every day, which supports the participants, employers, and communities we serve.