TOWARDS EMPLOYMENT INC

TOWARDS EMPLOYMENT (TE) HAS OVER 40 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE SUCCESSFULLY HELPING PEOPLE GAIN THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO FIND A JOB, NAVIGATE LIFE'S OBSTACLES, AND SECURE A PATH TOWARD A LONG-TERM CAREER - OVER 128,000 PEOPLE SINCE 1976. IN 2023 TOWARDS EMPLOYMENT SERVED 1,774 INDIVIDUALS WITH 512 PLACED INTO EMPLOYMENT AND 176 ADVANCING IN THEIR CAREERS.WE ENGAGE DEEPLY WITH OUR NETWORK OF MORE THAN 300 EMPLOYER PARTNERS, WORKING WITH THEM TO FILL OPEN POSITIONS AND REDUCE TURNOVER IN THE IMMEDIATE TERM WHILE PARTNERING TO INCREASE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO QUALITY JOBS OVER THE LONG TERM. TOO MANY PEOPLE IN TODAY'S WORLD OF WORK FACE SYSTEMIC BARRIERS-A CRIMINAL RECORD, HOUSING, TRANSPORTATION, CHILDCARE - TO ACCESSING AND GROWING IN A CAREER. WE PROMOTE POLICIES TO ELIMINATE SYSTEMIC BARRIERS AND BETTER ALIGN THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SYSTEM TO SUPPORT THE MOST AFFECTED COMMUNITIES.IN 2023 OUR PROGRAMS INCLUDED:COMMUNITY, REENTRY AND YOUNG ADULT SERVICES: -COMPREHENSIVE CAREER PATHWAY SERVICES FOR ALL THOSE IN THE GREATER CLEVELAND AREA WHO LACK ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITY FOR SKILL-BUILDING, MENTORSHIP, CREDENTIALS, PAID INTERNSHIPS, CONNECTIONS TO EMPLOYERS AND HOLISTIC WRAP AROUND SERVICES. SPECIALIZED SERVICES FOR THOSE WITH JUSTICE INVOLVEMENT, YOUNG ADULTS DISCONNECTED FROM SCHOOL OR WORK, INDIVIDUALS TRANSITIONING OFF OF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE, OR OTHERWISE IN NEED OF CAREER BUILDING SUPPORTS.INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIP PROGRAMMING: -CUSTOMIZED CAREER PATHWAYS DEVELOPED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH AN INDUSTRY SECTOR PARTNERSHIP OR AN INDIVIDUAL EMPLOYER DEDICATED TO TAPPING A MORE DIVERSE WORKFORCE PIPELINE. IN 2023, FOCUS HAS BEEN ON PREPARING PEOPLE FOR ENTERING AND ADVANCING A MANUFACTURING CAREER; AND ON LAUNCHING THE NEO EMPLOYER RESOURCE NETWORK. ERN PROVIDES ITS MEMBER EMPLOYERS AN ONSITE SUCCESS COACH WHO COACHES EMPLOYEES ON A RANGE OF ISSUES THAT CAN LEAD TO ABSENTEEISM AND TURNOVER, PROVIDING DIRECT SUPPORT SERVICES AND CONNECTION TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES TO ENHANCE RETENTION AND EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT.TOWARDS EMPLOYMENT WORKS WITH OVER 300 LOCAL EMPLOYERS, HELPING THEM MEET THEIR TALENT NEEDS. OUR PROGRAMMING INCLUDES JOB READINESS, JOB PLACEMENT, AND JOB RETENTION AND CAREER ADVANCEMENT WITH ON-GOING CAREER COACHING AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES. RETENTION AND ADVANCEMENT SERVICES INCLUDE CAREER EXPLORATION AND COACHING, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLANNING, PERSONAL WELLNESS AND WORKPLACE SUCCESS TRAINING. SUPPORTIVE SERVICES PROVIDE CONNECTIONS TO BASIC NEEDS FOR PARTICIPANTS WHO ENCOUNTER BARRIERS DURING THEIR JOB SEARCH/EMPLOYMENT, AND FOR NEWLY EMPLOYED LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS WHO NEED TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE TO TRANSITION TO EMPLOYMENT. THESE INCLUDE LEGAL SERVICES TO REMOVE BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT OR JOB RETENTION SUCH AS CREDIT/DEBT ISSUES, BANKRUPTCY, FORECLOSURE, OR CRIMINAL ISSUES. IN ADDITION, WE LEVERAGE LOCAL AND NATIONAL FUNDING TO SUPPORT COLLABORATIVE INITIATIVES TO IMPROVE WORKFORCE SERVICES FOR KEY STAKEHOLDERS, INCLUDING DISCONNECTED YOUNG ADULTS, INDIVIDUALS WITH CRIMINAL HISTORIES, AND LOW-INCOME JOBSEEKERS.