Pathways to Employment: Collaborative Approach to Serve Employed and Underemployed AJFCA, April 16,...
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Transcript of Pathways to Employment: Collaborative Approach to Serve Employed and Underemployed AJFCA, April 16,...
Pathways to Employment:Collaborative Approach to
Serve Employed and Underemployed
AJFCA, April 16, 2007
PATHWAYS TO EMPLOYMENT: PATHWAYS TO EMPLOYMENT: COLLABORATIVE APPROACH TO SERVE
EMPLOYED AND UNDEREMPLOYED
Presented by: Wendy Wolfman, M.A.
Director of Family and Community Services
Jewish Family & Child Service of Greater Toronto
Rita Dumov, MSW
Manager, Employment Services
JVS Toronto
WORKSHOP OUTLINEWORKSHOP OUTLINE Overview of JF&CS Services Overview of JVS Toronto Who We Are - JF&CS Who We Are - JVS Toronto Jewish Family & Child Service of Greater Toronto JVS Toronto Services Pathways to Employment Program Population Served Barriers Towards Employment JF&CS & JVS Toronto Collaborative Model Employability Model The Power of Effective Collaboration: Lessons Learned Vignettes Questions/Answers
Overview of JF&CS ServicesOverview of JF&CS Services
JF&CS celebrates 140 years of service to the greater Toronto community
Originally founded as Toronto’s Jewish Benevolent Society
Has helped hundreds of thousands of Jewish clients since its inception
Overview of JF&CS ServicesOverview of JF&CS Services
Today, JF&CS is a multi service agency offering
a variety of programs The agency is a not for profit charitable
organization Partners with government, UJA Federation,
Toronto and the United Way Has grown to more than 100 staff at four different
locations
Overview of JVS Toronto ServicesOverview of JVS Toronto Services
JVS Toronto celebrates 60 years of service to the Greater Toronto Community
Originally founded by Jewish community at the end of the Second World War
Helped over 400,000 individuals
Overview of JVS Toronto ServicesOverview of JVS Toronto Services
Today, JVS Toronto is a multi service agency offering a variety of programs
The agency is a not for profit, non-sectarian, charitable organization
Partners with government, business sectors and with Jewish community
From staff of three, we have grown to more than 180 and offer services in 14 locations
Who We Are – JF&CSWho We Are – JF&CS
Mission: To support and promote the healthy development
of individuals, families and communities in the greater Toronto area through prevention, protection, counselling and advocacy services within the context of Jewish values.
Who We Are – JF&CSWho We Are – JF&CS
Our Values: Tzedakah – Social Justice Ahraiut Hadadit –acceptance of communal and
mutual responsibility – ( ability to live “Jewishly”) Chesed –kindness and caring Kavod –all humans treated with respect Tikkun Olam –repair of the world Eilu V’eilu – diversity and unity
Who We Are – JVS TorontoWho We Are – JVS Toronto
“The highest degree of righteousness is to give assistance to those who have fallen upon hard times”
Maimonides, 13thcentury
Mission: To be an outstanding provider of Services
for achieving success at school and at work
Our Values:*Customer-Centred *Collaboration*Quality *Leadership*Integrity
Jewish Family and Child Service Jewish Family and Child Service of Greater Torontoof Greater Toronto
JF & CS
CHILDWELFARESERVICES
CHILDREN’SMENTALHEALTH
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
& REHAB
FAMILYSERVICES
ANTI-VIOLENCE & WOMAN
ABUSE PROGRAMS
CHAPLAINCYVOLUNTEER
SERVICES HOSPICECOUNSELLING
& GROUPSERVICES
EVALUATION / RESEARCH/CONTINUOUS QUALTIY IMPROVEMENT
JVS Toronto ServicesJVS Toronto Services
Assessm ent& Testing
C areerExp lora tion
Tra in ingP rogram s
Em ploym entServ ices
Em ployerServ ices
JV SToronto
Pathways to Employment ProgramPathways to Employment Program
Initiated in 1997 by three agencies: UJA Federation, Toronto, Jewish Family and Child Service of Greater Toronto, and JVS Toronto
Since 1999, the program has been co-funded by JF&CS and JVS; each party has contributed $10,000 annually
The objective of this program is to bring the expertise of two agencies together in a collaborative effort to assist economically disadvantaged clients achieve self – sufficiency
Since the inception of the program, over 700 clients have been served and 45% obtained either full time or part time employment
Pathways to Employment ProgramPathways to Employment Program
Significant community and government dollars have been saved as a result of this program
The strength of the program is in its highly individualized planning process
The program responds to the needs of clients by ensuring access to services offered by JF&CS, JVS and other community providers
JF&CS and JVS bring a variety of perspectives and approaches to helping clients: multi-disciplinary collaboration, clinical expertise, concrete support, employment strategies, etc.
Population ServedPopulation Served
The client base is diverse and includes underemployed and unemployed individuals
who want to return to the workforce. The program serves: single mothers/fathers,
abused women, immigrants, people with mental illness, unstable work histories, learning disabilities, developmental challenges, addiction problems, criminal background, etc.
Barriers Towards EmploymentBarriers Towards Employment
27
87
10
30
24
36
80
98
98
54
0 20 40 60 80 100 120
Limited Canadian Experience
Personal/Emotional Issues
Learning Disabilities
Mental Health Issues
Language Barriers
Medical Barriers
Poor Employment History
Age Barrier
Absence of Job Search Skills
Absence of Lbr. Mkt Knowledge
JF&CS & JVS Collaborative ModelJF&CS & JVS Collaborative ModelStage One
JF&CS/JVS
Rehab Plan Meeting
Education/TrainingOntario Disability
Support Program Employment Discussions
Stage Two
JF&CS
Pathways to Employment
Group
JVS Workshop Consultation
JVS & JF&CS StaffConsultation
Client/JVS/JF&CS
Stage Three
JVS Toronto
Pathways to Employment Program
Individual/Group Employment Counselling
JF&CS & JVS Collaborative ModelJF&CS & JVS Collaborative ModelStage Three
JVS Toronto
Pathways to Employment Program
Individual/Group Employment Counselling
JF&CS, JVS &
Client
Consultation
Based on need
JVS Staff &
Client meetJF&CS and JVS
Consult
Stage Four
JVS Toronto
Employment Counselling
Employability Assessment
Diagnostic
Services
Career
Exploration
Training
Programs
Job Search Skills
Training/Coaching
Volunteer Work
Work Experience
Internship
Job Development
Job Matching
Job Retention
Stage Five
Program Outcomes
JF&CS & JVS Collaborative ModelJF&CS & JVS Collaborative Model
Stage Five
JVS Toronto/JF&CS
Program Outcomes
Clients
Volunteer/
Work Experience/
Internships
Clients Employed
Job Retention
Clients who require
ongoing support
Clients in Skills
Training
Programs
Employability ModelEmployability Model
Personal/Environmental Issues (health,
housing, family issues, child care) Career Decision Making Job Related Skills Job Search Skills Work Maintenance Skills
The Power of Effective The Power of Effective Collaboration: Lessons LearnedCollaboration: Lessons Learned
In terms of employability clients fall into three categories: Employable; Employable over time with support and training; Unemployable
Unemployable clients are dealing with difficult circumstances; may be reluctant or resistant; have unstable work histories; or mental health issues with financial difficulties
Collaboration between JVS and JF&CS has helped clients:
to take risks and achieve beyond their aspirations to participate in new training programs, to develop
new skills to seek work in areas which they previously might
have thought to be impossible to learn and accept their strengths and limitations
The Power of Effective Collaboration: Lessons Learned
The Power of Effective Collaboration: The Power of Effective Collaboration: Lessons LearnedLessons Learned
Collaborative interviews with clients have been particularly fruitful in ensuring that the agencies are not working in isolation, allowing for a review of progress and in developing mutually agreed upon goals and timelines
VignettesVignettes Bonnie is a single mother with two special needs
children Very limited and unstable work history Diagnosed with a learning disability and an anxiety
disorder Great difficulties with consistency, attitude,
interview and work situations Long term collaborative effort resulted in Bonnie
volunteering and being placed in a work environment under the direction of a job coach
VignettesVignettes Jullian, 35 years old, studied food technology in South
Africa He was in distress, his newborn child was in poor health,
and Jullian could not find employment Julian was allergic to dough and had no Canadian
experience Jullian was referred for vocational testing. Testing
reinforced his professional choice He was provided with assistance for his resume and
interview skills In two months, he obtained a job as a food technologist. Jullian wrote: “I’d like to thank you for all your help with
my job search. In a period of about two months of intensive job hunting, I succeeded in getting 6 interview invitations and two offers, one of which I was quite happy to accept.”
VignettesVignettes Jeannette is a 55 year old depressed, single mother who left
an abusive marriage She has a grade 12 education and no employment history. Was referred for a vocational assessment which
recommended employment in an office or customer service/sales environment.
JVS funded her in-house training in a Retail and Customer Service program
Collaborative efforts between JF&CS’ woman abuse team and JVS resulted in a successful work integration experience
She was able to flourish in a retail environment for 4 years. Presently, she is taking courses to become a medical
secretary.
VignettesVignettes Jacob is a 57 year old married man whose wife is dying from
cancer. He has two children in university Jacob was a musician in Russia. In Canada, while battling
his depression, Jacob completed a 3 year college program and became a computer programmer. He soon realized that he did not like this occupation
He had been working as a security guard for 5 years Jacob was provided with assistance to do skills inventory,
resume and interview skills Jacob was placed as a sales project manager within a month.
Collaborative support from JF&CS hospice worker and JVS staff resulted in Jacob moving on with his life during hard times. Jacob wrote: ”Thank you very much for your time and effort, and the main thing, for reinforcing my believe in myself!”