Goodwill's FOCUSED program works to transition individuals from government assistance
BALTIMORE, March 27, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Goodwill Industries of the Chesapeake, Inc. has recently renamed its Welfare to Work program to the FOCUSED program. FOCUSED (Families on Course Utilizing Services for Economic and Educational Development) works with individuals transitioning off government assistance programs, and provides them with job skills, work experience and staff support to enter the workforce.
Goodwill partners with a network of over 600 businesses, community service organizations and government agencies that support its goal to match individuals with employment opportunities in the community. Goodwill prepares and places individuals who are seeking independence and self-sufficiency. In 2013, approximately 2,750 individuals received services through the FOCUSED program with 750 placed into jobs.
FOCUSED is open to members of the community who are referred from the Department of Social Services. Each program participant is evaluated, assessed and joins the Job Club, a support group for continued work success. Additionally, they are enrolled in job readiness classes covering a wide variety of employable skills. Then, guided by Goodwill staff, they are placed into jobs. Goodwill emphasizes effective communication skills, an understanding of employer's expectations, and a commitment to productivity.
To learn more about FOCUSED and a few of the participants, please watch the following video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sx3ylrVuRkY
About Goodwill Industries of the Chesapeake: Goodwill Industries of the Chesapeake, Inc. provides job training, job placement and other human services for people who are unemployed or face other challenges to employment, including people with significant disabilities. Annually, Goodwill provides services to more than 39,500 people, and places approximately 2,500 individuals into jobs. Revenue generated from the sale of donated goods helps fund these programs. For more information on Goodwill, please visit www.goodwillches.org
Media Contact:
Jonathan Balog
VP, Marketing
410-837-1800 ext. 175
[email protected]
SOURCE Goodwill Industries of the Chesapeake, Inc.
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