Bridging The Gaps: Training & Placement Program

          Goodwill Industries of Ashtabula, Inc. is working with The National Retail Federation Foundation (NRFF) and The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRA) in cooperation with Area Industries, The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS), Ashtabula County Health Department (ACHD), Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD), The Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR), and local employers; to developed professional training programs designed to move persons with disabilities and other challenges toward self-sufficient living.

          The “Bridging the Gaps” Training and Placement Program is designed to prepare individuals with disabilities and other challenges to fill on-going employment needs in Ohio and Pennsylvania. “Gaps” in the employment industry are where vacancies are high according to the ODJFS and the Bureau of Labor Market Information; where applicants may secure employment to earn a living wage with advancement potential. “Bridging the Gaps” is not only designed to fill the areas of need in the workforce, but also to provide a connection or a “bridge” that facilitates attitudinal and behavioral changes within the consumer. This is achieved through a process of “habilitation” rather than “rehabilitation” (Sims, 1989). That being said, “Bridging the Gaps” recognizes different approaches to learning transmission, acquisition, accretion, and emergence, and emphasizes that change itself is influenced by biological, psychological, sociological and spiritual variables. The capacity that each individual brings to the learning/change process is affected by these variables. At the same time, these models recognize that although the participant is ultimately responsible for change and learning, that responsibility is shared with the trainer through the development of a therapeutic training environment. Over the past fifteen years, considerable research has focused on ways to better motivate participants with various challenges. A series of motivational approaches has been developed to elicit and enhance motivation to learn and change. They seek to shift control away from the trainer and back to the participant empowering them. They emphasize treating participants as valuable productive individuals. They also recognize that gaining the mastery over ingrained challenges may be a cyclical rather than a linear process; and in addition that recurrence of issues does not necessarily indicate failure (SAMHSA, 2013).

          “Bridging the Gaps” affords each participant the opportunity to achieve a nationally recognized certification from either the NRFF in: Customer Service, Advanced Customer Service, Retail and/or Retail Management or a nationally recognized certification from the NRA as a: ServSafe, Safe Food Handler or Food Protection Manager. 

A Year Of Workforce Development

          In 2016, Goodwill Industries of Ashtabula, Inc. (Serving Northeast Ohio and Northwest Pennsylvania) took large strides in expanding Workforce Development programs and other services in the territories served. Having started this year with a youth program in Lake County, Job Development, Work Adjustment, EDS, and the PRIDE programs in Ashtabula County, we are now proudly offering two new programs while serving double the amount of individuals in these counties. With this growth, we have welcomed seven new talented Workforce Development staff to our core team, including:

Jewel Chappell: Job Coach & Developer

Lisa Friend: Case Manager

Andre Lyons: Job Coach & Developer

Matthew McCray: Mission Services Developer

Mary Murray: Workforce Development Specialist

Hanni Nazario: Workforce Development Program Manager

Willie Sims: Curriculum Developer

Rosemary Torok: Workforce Development Program Manager

          Also new this year, are five programs serving Erie, Pennsylvania, and four industry certificate training programs for in-demand jobs. We are positioning our Workforce Development department to partner with area industry employers in an effort to help with the growing numbers of unfulfilled job positions and individuals in need. Our Workforce Development division has been an integral part of these performance metrics, including increasing evidence based practices, and leveraging multiple funding sources to meet these demands. We understand the power of work in helping with recovery, recidivism, economic development, and community engagement.

          Expansion will continue in 2017, as we continue to implement strategic planning in all our territories, and help build a stronger workforce in the communities we serve. Goodwill Industries of Ashtabula, Inc. (Serving Northeast Ohio and Northwest Pennsylvania) is committed to supporting individuals with barriers to employment and achieving self-sufficiency. We thank our funders for their shared commitment to Workforce Development in the communities we serve. 

Goodwill Adds Sixth Retail Store Plus Donation Center

Goodwill Industries of Ashtabula, Inc. (Serving Northeast Ohio and Northwest Pennsylvania) has the vision to be recognized as the leader providing vocational services in the territories of which we serve. Among that vision, comes the need to expand business initiatives of donated goods retail to fund and support the vocational services we provide and strive to have stand out. With these motives in mind, Goodwill Industries has been enthusiastically planning to introduce a brand new retail store and attended donation center in Harborcreek, Pennsylvania, and now the time of it’s unveiling is right around the corner!

The new location will be located at 1980 Nagle Road, directly behind Walgreens on Buffalo Road. Prior to becoming a Goodwill, the location was previously known for being Martin's Country Clean & Self Serve Carwash, succeeded by Direct Bedding and Furniture. The past businesses that once thrived in this location, allow Goodwill to operate with a unique layout, as the past 1,700 ft2 laundromat and furniture store will now serve as a donated goods retail store and the two-door automatic carwash bay will serve as a drive-through attended donation center, adding a convenience feature for the individual who donates throughout the winter months.

The addition of this Harborcreek retail store will constitute as the sixth official retail site under the territorial domain of Goodwill Industries of Ashtabula, Inc. (Serving Northeast Ohio and Northwest Pennsylvania); and the ninth site in general, when one includes the attended donation centers and job training centers we have in Perry, Ohio, Conneaut Ohio, and Painesville, Ohio respectively.

As for now, the primary focus is on building the layout of the store, stocking the shelves, staffing the store, and training the staff. It is within our expectations to have both the new store and attended donation center completed and operating before the winter months come to a close.